RTA Will Be Free to Ride on Election Day

Cleveland’s Abysmal Voting Turnout For about a decade and probably a litte bit longer, Cleveland’s voter turnout has declined. It should be up to every resident to change that, and imperative to our local leaders to lead the groundswell. Otherwise, decisions get made for you, and statewide races hinge on the suburbs of Ohio instead of its city centers. Credit: Scene archives

Tuesday kicked off early voting in Ohio, and while that will be a common way to make your voice heard over the coming weeks, about half of voters do so in person on Election Day.

And RTA, the Cleveland Foundation and Cleveland Votes want to make sure it’s as easy and equitable as possible with free fares from Nov. 5 at 3 a.m. to Nov. 6 at 3 a.m.

“Equity is one of our core values and the lens in which we approach our work,” said Lillian Kuri, the president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. “So removing barriers and providing our equitable access to transportation is one thing that we can do to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to participate in our democratic process.”

The “Ride Free And Vote” campaign offers free fares for the GCRTA bus, rail and paratransit thanks to a $105,000 grant from the Foundation. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. Customers do not have to show proof of voting to ride for free.

Daily ridership typically sits at around 72,000 capacity but India Birdsong Terry, GCRTA CEO and general manager, says that number will increase by 5 to 10% on Election Day and said they will offer additional resources to ensure voters are engaged and prepared for Election Day.

“We’re trying to pass [that] 72,000 capacity that triggers our system,” Birdsong terry says.

The GCRTA and Cleveland VOTES have utilized data to prioritize communities that have lower voter turnout in 2020. To get more outreach to these communities, the team created a landing page and will use promotional videos across social media to spread awareness. Members of Cleveland VOTES will also be in the community to provide information and remind people that riding is free.

More information can be found at RTA’s site.

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