San Antonio drivers are offering free rides to the polls via voting rideshare program

More than 50 volunteers in Bexar County signed up to give free rides to the polls during the early voting period and on Election Day, Nov. 3, through a rideshare program, Rideshare2Vote.

Sarah Kovich, the founder of the program, told mySA.com Thursday the organization aims to take a bite out of voter suppression in Texas and increase voter turnout. Rideshare2Vote launched in 2018 and is now serving more than 50 counties in Texas. Kovich said there are about 60 drivers who volunteered in Bexar County.

You can request a ride by calling 888-977-2250 or by submitting a ride request via rideshare2vote.com or through its Mobile Rider app, which is available via the Apple App Store or Google Play.

“Think of us as a free taxi or uber roundtrip ride to the polls,” Kovich said, adding that the program also takes residents who are voting by mail to their local election office to drop off their ballot.

Drivers and riders are to wear masks during the trip, Kovich said. She noted drivers were also trained to have hand sanitizer available and their windows down to maintain maximum airflow.

Rob Tate, 33, said he volunteered to be a driver for the program because he wants to combat voter apathy and bring as many Americans as he can to the polls.

“No matter if Generation Z, or Millennials or if older, this is for everybody,” she said. “We don’t ask who you are voting for or ask which party you are in. All we want is to get you to the polls.”

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @CillaAguirre