Local residents can catch a free ride to their designated polling places from Arrowhead Transit through the organization’s Dial-a-Ride program Tuesday.
International Falls polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Community members who wish to request a ride to the polls should call 283-3110 for the Internationals Falls location. Rides to the polls will be provided during regular operating hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We just really want to ensure that there is access to the polls on Election Day,” said Beth Peterson, Arrowhead Transit regional transitions coordinator.
Peterson said that in rural counties like Koochiching, transportation can be a barrier to getting to a number of places and events. She said because voting is a right all Americans have, Arrowhead Transit wants to ensure transportation is not a barrier to that right.
Peterson said Arrowhead Transit offers free rides on Election Day every two years during major elections.
“We hope that folks take even more advantage of this service this year as it is a presidential election,” she said.
While she didn’t have exact numbers, Peterson said the service has been taken advantage of by the International Falls community in the past.
“We have definitely seen an increase in ridership on election days,” she said.
Peterson stressed that the bus will only operate during the normal 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. hours and that no additional buses will be used for the added demand next week. However, Peterson said polling locations are not included on the normal routes of buses.
For more information on where and when to vote and same day voter registration, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.mn.us.
Arrowhead Transit has been serving the Arrowhead Region since 1974. Originally created to provide low-cost transportation for the poor, disabled, and the elderly; today, with nearly 70 routes in and around northeastern Minnesota, the organization is the largest public rural transportation system not only in Minnesota, but in the United States. Arrowhead Transit is operated by Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.
