Getting to the polls this election season will be a little easier for
Volusia County voters. Votran and the Volusia County Elections Office
are partnering to offer free rides to the polls Election Day for
registered voters. Transportation to four early voting sites throughout
the county and to the primary election polls, October 9, 2007 with early
voting dates October 1-6, and the
general election polls, November 6, 2007 with early voting dates October
29 - November 3, will be provided free to Votran
riders with a valid voter ID.
Early voting sites are: Supervisor of Elections office (Deland), City
Island Library, Deltona Library and New Smyrna Beach Library.
The Ride Free to the Polls with Your Voter ID program provides voters
with a lack of personal transportation an equal opportunity to vote,
according to Ann McFall, Volusia County’s Supervisor of Elections.
Residents with a voter’s registration card can ride Votran free to the
polls for the primary and general elections.
“We feel everyone should have the same opportunity to vote and we are
pleased to be able to offer this service to Volusia County residents,”
said Votran General Manager Lois Bollenback. “During the elections in
2004, there were 200 boardings for the Ride Free to the Polls with Your
Voter ID program.”
In addition to being offered to riders of Votran’s fixed routes, the
Ride Free with Your Voter ID program is available to residents
registered for Votran’s Gold Service. Gold Service users must schedule
their trip a day in advance. Gold service is available to persons who,
because of physical or mental disability or age, are unable to transport
themselves and cannot use fixed-route bus service, Bollenback explained.
“We are excited to partner with Votran again,” said McFall. “This
program opens the voting process to many residents who have been unable
to vote. This is a great example of County services working together.”
For more information on Votran, please contact Votran Customer
Service at 386-761-7700 (Daytona Beach), 386-424-6800 (New Smyrna Beach)
or 386-943-7033 in West Volusia.
Ride free to the
polls