Nonpartisan organization offering rides to polling places in Kansas City, Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A nonpartisan organization in Kansas City, Missouri, is working to transport voters to the polls for the November 5 election.

From 2020 Communities that create opportunity(CCO) provided free rides to Kansas City voters who live in historically marginalized communities.

Volunteers work on Election Day to transport voters to and from polling stations.

“There are challenges for people who don’t have transportation,” said Denise Hartsfield, executive director of CCO. “A lot of times, polling places aren’t necessarily at bus stops, so yeah, that’s what we’re doing our part to do by providing these rides.”

KSHB 41

The Hartsfield organization has recruited more than a dozen volunteers who have passed background checks and have a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance.

Volunteers also donate their time, gas money and vehicles to give rides to people who have no other way to get to the polls.

“I can listen to their circumstances and understand why they can’t come to the polls; whether they don’t have cars, or their cars are broken, or their family doesn’t have family in the area that can take them, or their family doesn’t care about things like that. Personally, I enjoy doing this,” said Douglas Kinney, CCO volunteer. “What’s happening here, especially on a national level. will affect us for years to come. While I may not have many years left on the air, my children and grandchildren do.”

This year was the first time CCO provided free transportation during early voting.

About 30 people signed up for free transportation to their polling station a week before the election.

“We help those people who don’t have vehicles, those with limited mobility, and those who just need a little more time to get their act together,” Hartsfield said.

KSHB 41

CCO focuses on offering rides to everyone who needs them, even on Election Day.

Their command center will be taking calls from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm on November 5th.

Phone number: 816-221-0556.

RideKC also offers rides to the polls on Election Day.

Starting Monday and Tuesday, anyone can redeem two free 60-minute riding credits on RideKC electric bikes or classic pedal bikes.

To get a promotion, download their app.

There is also a LyftUp Voting Access program where voters can get 50% off polling station rides, bikes and scooters on Election Day.