Free, non-partisan assistance from Ride to the Polls
TOLEDO – One of the most fundamental requirements for voting is being able to get to your polling place. If you don’t have a vehicle, if you don’t live close to public transportation or if you don’t have access to transportation services (such as Lyft or Uber), you are much less likely to be able to vote.
It’s a problem that is much more prevalent than one might think.
“We’ve found that it is one of the top two reasons in the Toledo area for not voting (along with not having proper identification),” explained Basia Lynn, a participant in the Ride to the Polls program sponsored by Jobs with Justice (JwJ). “And our situation here in Toledo is
about the same as around the country.”
Jobs with Justice is a grassroots volunteer organization committed to worker justice.
Toledo JwJ is one of 40 chartered members of the National Jobs with Justice Network
and National Interfaith Worker Justice Coalition. Since 2002, Toledo JwJ has provided
its Ride to the Polls program for general elections in Toledo; since 2012, Ride to the
Polls has been available every year.
Its 2025 program began October 4 and will run through the Nov. 4 general election (including early voting and Election Day voting).
“I really appreciate this service. The people are fantastic, and it was very easy to sign
up,” said Gary Kirian, who used Ride to the Polls in the 2024 national election and is
registered to be picked up again for this year’s election.
Ride to the Polls is available for voters throughout Lucas County and northern Wood
County, and signing up is as simple as calling 419VOTE NOW (419.868.3669),
according to Bob Lynn, secretary with Toledo JwJ (and Basia’s husband).
When you reach the call center, you’ll provide your contact information, and the volunteer will locate your voting precinct. They’ll also talk with you about any special needs you have
that may impact your voting, such as movement or vision problems, and the driver will
be able to make arrangements once you arrive at your polling place.
“When our drivers pick you up, they’ll make sure you have your identification materials
with you, and the driver will have precinct information and other details that will be
necessary,” Bob Lynn said. He has an average of 25 to 50 Ride to the Polls drivers who will
be assigned from their homes or from their base at the Monroe Street United Methodist
Church. If voters need assistance with the process (reading the ballots, getting into the
polling place, etc.), they can bring someone, or the driver can assist. Drivers are trained
to carry out any voting-related procedures, including providing assistance to voters in
the booth and arranging for poll watcher involvement.
Ride to the Polls drivers are also very accommodating.
“We pick up voters wherever they are: from home or work, rehab or even the hospital,” said Basia Lynn. “Some voters want more help, while others want us to just drop them off to vote, and then pick them up to go home.”
Kirian has lived in west Toledo since 2012 and had previously worked as an engineer. “I
used to drive all over the U.S. for my work. Now it’s difficult to be without my freedom,”
he said.
In 2024, he and his son used the Ride to the Polls program. “The driver who
picked us up was great,” he said. “He waited while we voted and then took us home. It’s
very important to me to be able to vote.”
Most important, Basia said, is that voters know that Ride to the Polls is non-partisan and
free.
“We don’t care what your politics are; we just want you to vote. People are so
happy to participate and say they didn’t know there was someone who could help.
Election Day is one of my favorite days of the year.”
Voters can contact Ride to the Polls by calling 419-868-3669 (419 VOTE NOW) or by
email at [email protected]. Learn more about this program at Toledo Jobs with
Justice. Toledo JwJ is also welcoming drivers to participate, currently and through
Election Day (Nov. 4), by using the same contact information.
