Detroit is offering free bus rides to the polls on Election Day to encourage voter turnout. The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) and DDOT will provide the free rides from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Election Day.
Voter Turnout Efforts
Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey has encouraged Detroiters to get out and vote, stressing that elections are safe and secure. The clerk hosted a Party at the Polls event on Saturday outside the Department of Elections Office on W. Grand Boulevard.
Overall, 979 ballots were cast at early voting sites across the city through 5 p.m. Monday. The primary election on Aug. 4 determines party nominations for Congress, state Legislature, and Michigan governor. Voters will also get a chance to cast their ballot for transit and education proposals.
A group of city-based religious leaders convened a news conference outside City Hall and urged council members to sign a public pledge to abide by the US Constitution and state election laws. The group encouraged city leaders to refuse to comply with any unlawful executive orders or requests for data from the US Department of Justice that seek to restrict voting.
Dr. Louis Forsythe of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church asked council members to “stand with me” and protect voters against any federal efforts to “interfere.”
Free Rides to the Polls
The free rides will be available on all SMART services, including SMART Connector and ADA Paratransit. Riders who use these services should still reserve their trips in advance. For route schedules, trip planning, and bus stop locations, riders can visit smartbus.org or call SMART Customer Service at 866-962-5515.
“DDOT and SMART share a commitment to keeping our region moving and our communities connected,” Robert Cramer, Detroit’s executive director of transit, said in a statement. “Making sure Detroiters can reach their polling place without worrying about a fare or a ride is exactly the kind of partnership that serves our residents best.”
Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.
