Through a partnership with the National Council on Aging, rideshare app Lyft is giving older adults credit toward a ride to and from the polls now through Election Day in November.
Earlier this year, Lyft announced its LyftUp Voting Access program. The company works with “nonprofit partners whose communities traditionally face barriers when getting to the polls” to help members of those communities access the transportation they need to vote. One of the partners Lyft works with is the National Council on Aging, which announced the collaboration earlier this month.
Seniors can use the promo code NCOAVOTES to receive a $25 credit each way for rides to and from polling locations, including ballot drop boxes. The code is currently active for those wanting to vote in primary elections, and is good through Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.
Seniors can use the promo code NCOAVOTES to receive a $25 credit each way for rides to and from polling locations, including ballot drop boxes.
Ramsey Alwin, president and CEO of NCOA, said in a statement that transportation can be a special challenge for seniors who are part of other marginalized groups.
“Too many older adults do not have transportation to get to polling stations and fully participate in our democracy,” Alwin said. “This is especially true of low-income seniors, communities of color, and those living in rural areas. Lyft’s voting access program will help ensure that these older adults can make their voices heard where it matters—in the voting booth.”
To take advantage of the ride credit, seniors with smartphones will need to download the Lyft app and create a Lyft account. This requires entering and verifying a phone number and entering an email address and credit card or other payment information. Additionally, each account requires a picture of the person who holds the account so the driver knows who they’re supposed to be picking up.
How to set up a ride to the polls with Lyft
- Download the Lyft app and create a Lyft account.
- Enter and verify your phone number, email address and credit card or other payment information.
- Add a picture to your account.
- Select the menu button, or the three-line icon, in the upper left-hand corner of the app’s home screen and tap “Rewards.”
- Enter the promo code NCOAVOTES into your account rewards before ordering a ride.
For seniors who do not have a smartphone, a caregiver can create or use their own account and use Lyft’s “Ride For Others” feature to order a ride and track the ride’s location. This is done by selecting “me” next to the account holder’s picture on the step of the process where location details are entered. A caregiver can select another person to take the ride.
For seniors who do not have a smartphone, a caregiver can create or use their own account and use Lyft’s “Ride For Others” feature to order a ride and track the ride’s location.
Finally, anyone wishing to use the ride credit must enter the promo code into their account rewards before ordering a ride. A Lyft account holder can select the menu button, or the three-line icon, in the upper left-hand corner of the app’s home screen and tap “Rewards.” Entering the promo code NCOAVOTES will apply the two $25 credits to the account.
Lyft has a number of safety guidelines that riders can use to stay safe while on Lyft rides. Before getting into a car, it’s a good idea to double-check the make and model of the car and license plate number against what’s displayed on the app to avoid getting into the wrong car. Once inside the car, a rider can share their location with a friend or caretaker using the “Share ride” feature in the app. Additionally, Lyft partners with security provider ADT so riders who feel unsafe in the car can contact 911 through the app and automatically provide dispatchers with the location and description of the vehicle. Masks to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 were previously required but are now optional on Lyft rides.
Lyft has a number of safety guidelines that riders can use to stay safe:
- Double-check the make and model of the car and license plate number against what’s displayed on the app.
- Once inside the car, share your location with a friend or caregiver using the “Share ride” feature.
- Lyft partners with security provider ADT so riders who feel unsafe can contact 911 through the app and automatically provide dispatchers with the location and description of the vehicle.
This is not the first time Lyft and the NCOA have teamed up to help seniors with transportation. A year ago, Lyft provided similar free ride codes to seniors going to and from COVID-19 vaccination appointments as part of their Universal Vaccine Access Campaign. As of October 2021, those ride codes are no longer available.