MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Early voting for the November 8, 2022 General Elections is underway, and Shelby County Election Commission (SCEC) and Shelby County Voter Alliance (SCVA) have partnered with MATA to provide free bus rides to the polls on Friday, Oct. 28.
Voters will be able to travel on fixed bus routes for free all day. Both SCEC and SCVA said their staff is focused on simplifying the voting process to promote high voter turnout.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for voters to get to the polls,” said Linda Phillips, administrator of elections for the Shelby County Election Commission. “Through our partnership with MATA and the Shelby County Voter Alliance we are doing everything we can to help voters cast their ballots during the Early Voting period, when voters can drop into any of the 26 Early Voting locations.”
First day early voter turnout was historically lower than it has been in the previous years.
The SCEC said poll workers are still adjusting to new equipment. The commission also noted that address changes and absentee mail in votes are still being processed.
Although SCEC and SCVA are working through the kinks, Ian Randolph, spokesperson for the Shelby County Voter Alliance, said they are working hard to make sure voters know about the free transportation opportunity for voters.
“Free rides to the polls is something we’ve wanted for a long time,” Randolph said. “It shines a good light on the city of Memphis that the transit authority is making such a commitment to helping citizens vote.”
MATA said that it is happy to help and provide transportation to voters.
“We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Shelby County Election and the Shelby County Voter Alliance,” said Gary Rosenfeld, MATA CEO. “Our residents who wish to use public transportation to go vote early, can do so free of charge.”
A list of MATA’s fixed routes is available here. Early voting ends Nov. 3.
