The Greater Dayton RTA is helping local residents get out to vote this election season by partnering with the Dayton Unit NAACP, League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area (LWVGDA), and East End Community Services to provide a free day pass to individuals that may experience transportation barriers during the early voting period from October 6 to November 2.
The RTA understands the necessity for reliable transportation in order to vote, and that’s why the agency’s board of trustees decided in 2018 to provide free rides for all customers, both on fixed-route and paratransit bus services, on all certified election days. Given the added pressures of the international COVID-19 pandemic, extending this service to accommodate early voting was the right thing to do, said RTA CEO Mark Donaghy.
“We are pleased to partner with these great community-based organizations to ensure that every citizen is able to exercise their right to vote by removing the barrier of access through our network of services,” Donaghy said.
Early Vote day passes can be received at the following locations, and those with questions about the program should contact these agencies:
- East End Community Services: 624 Xenia Ave., Dayton—Mon.-Fri., 8 am- 5 pm, or call 937 258-1898
- League of Women Voters: 127 N. Ludlow St., Dayton—Mon.-Fri., 9 am- 2 pm, or call 937-228-4042
- Dayton Unit NAACP: 1528 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Dayton—call 937-222-2172
Program partners said they are grateful of RTA’s assistance with providing access to those wishing to vote early.
“It is commendable that RTA has made an executive decision to participate in our democracy from a voter mobilization standpoint,” said Dr. Derrick L. Foward, President of the Dayton Unit NAACP.
“We are thankful to partner with RTA to eliminate transportation as a barrier for people to vote,” said Susan Hesselgesser, Executive Director of LWVGDA.
“By working with RTA, we are assuring that voters in Montgomery County can vote early in person or drop off their mail-in ballots at the Board of Elections, without any transportation cost,” said Jan Lepore-Jentleson, Executive Director of East End Community Services.
Registered voters can vote in-person or drop-off their absentee ballot at the Montgomery County Board of Elections. The drop box will be available 24/7. In addition to the Early Vote day pass, RTA will be providing free rides system-wide on Election Day, November 3, 2020.
