SacRT Offers Free Rides to Help Drive the Vote

October 20, 2020 SacRT News

Take Transit to Vote Centers and Drop Box Locations

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) has teamed up with Sacramento County and the Sacramento Kings to drive community members to Vote Center and Ballot Drop Box locations across the Sacramento region to help Drive the Vote.

SacRT is offering free rides system-wide on all bus, light rail, SmaRT Ride and SacRT GO Paratransit Services to honor the first day of early voting on Saturday, October 24, and a second system-wide free ride day in celebration of Election Day on Tuesday, November 3.

“We hope that Sacramento area voters take advantage of early voting and choose to take transit to help cast their ballot,” said SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li. “It is free to vote and SacRT is making it free to drive you to vote.”

In addition, SacRT is offering free rides on SmaRT Ride on-demand microtransit shuttles in all nine service zones, with a free ride flyer, from Monday, October 26 through Monday, November 2 with the exception of the weekend (no Saturday or Sunday SmaRT Ride service). Learn more about SmaRT Ride at sacrt.com/smartride.

“It is terrific to have Sacramento Regional Transit as a partner in our effort to make voting easier and more accessible to all Sacramento County voters,” said Sacramento County Registrar of Voters, Courtney Bailey-Kanelos. “It is important that we see high voter participation and having great partners like SacRT and the Sacramento Kings helps us meet that goal.”

“Transportation should not be a barrier to casting your vote and we are thrilled to partner with SacRT and the County to provide this critical service at no cost to all Sacramento residents,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “We hope that by helping to increase access to voting through free rides to the polls, Sacramento residents will have a stronger voice in our democracy.”

To ride SmaRT Ride for free, simply print or take a screenshot of the SmaRT Ride free ride flyer. You only need one flyer per group of riders traveling together. Have it ready to show the bus operator when boarding the shuttle. Visit www.sacrt.com/drivethevote to get the free ride flyer.

Sacramento Kings Rally the Vote

The Sacramento Kings-led Rally the Vote is a nonpartisan coalition of over 50 professional sports teams and leagues across the country committed to encouraging fans to register to vote and participate in elections. To help increase accessibility, Golden 1 Center in Downtown Commons will be an early voting site from Saturday, October 24 through Tuesday, November 3. The location will be the largest Vote Center in Sacramento County and allow for critical social distancing while still providing voters with all the needed services that Vote Centers offer. For more information, visit rallythevote.org.

Find a Sacramento County Vote Center

Sacramento County will open 84 Vote Centers for the Presidential General Election, 18 of them from Saturday, October 24 through Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. The others will be open Saturday, October 31 through Election Day. Visit elections.saccounty.net to learn more about vote center locations.

Wearing is Caring

To comply with the California Department of Public Health’s guidance on requiring face coverings or masks on public transportation, SacRT is requiring that a mask or face covering be worn while waiting at bus stops, light rail stations and when riding any SacRT vehicle. Learn more at www.sacrt.com/covid19.