Free rides to polling places in Iberia, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion parishes.

IBERIA PARISH (NEW IBERIA) — With just a few days until Election Day, several nonprofits in Iberia Parish are working to make sure everyone has transportation to the polls. The Rev. Wilfred Johnson, who helped organize the trips, spoke with KATC about the initiative.

“From 2010 to this day, we have been going to the polls,” Johnson said. “I mean, everyone, especially in Jeanerette, was excited about the new poll that opened in Jeanerette and gave people the opportunity to get out and vote.”

Early voting, mail-in ballots, absentee voting and now two polling places have made voting in Iberia Parish easier than ever. “It’s time to speak up as loud as we’ve ever spoken, and that’s by exercising our right to vote,” Johnson said.

In partnership with A New Chapter Push, the League of Women Voters, Black Voters Matter, Power Coalition and Ark of the Covenant Kingdom Builders, Rev. Johnson is helping to provide drivers with free rides to the polls at the courthouse in New Iberia and City Hall in Jeanerette.

At the time, he estimated that between 75 and 80 trips had been made available for early voting.

Johnson also sends drivers to Vermilion, St. Martin and St. Mary’s parishes. “It doesn’t cost them anything to travel, it’s free,” he noted.

To boost voter turnout, Johnson’s church, Little Zora in New Iberia, released a list of 5,000 inactive voters in the Iberia parish, giving people the opportunity to check their status and change their address if necessary.

New Iberian resident Brenda Thomas took advantage of the free ride and voted early in Jeanerette.

“It gives a chance to others who — it doesn’t matter if you live in New Iberia or not. If you’re in Jeanerette, vote in Jeanerette. People need to get out and vote; I say they should go out and vote. , even though you have the right to vote,” Thomas said.

To arrange a free ride to the polls on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5), call 337-241-1972.