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Need a ride to the polls? COTA, rideshares offering options for central Ohio voters

Some companies are offering free or discounted options to make sure central Ohioans go and vote.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 5 to cast their ballot in the general election.

For those needing a ride to their polling location on Tuesday, some companies are offering free or discounted options to make sure central Ohioans go and vote.

RELATED: Ohio 2024 General Election Voter Guide: Here's what's on the ballot, how you can vote

Central Ohioans can board any COTA Transit vehicle at no cost. It includes COTA’s fixed-route system, COTA Mainstream, Mainstream On-Demand and COTA//Plus.

COTA customers can get help planning their trip by calling COTA Customer Care at 614-228-1776 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Lyft is offering discounted rideshares, bikeshares and scooters for voters to get to the polls on Election Day. The company is offering a 50% discount (up to $10) on Election Day.

You can preload the discount code VOTE24 on or before Nov. 5. The code will be active from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. in every time zone, according to the company.

Uber has a similar deal for its riders. The company is offering a 50% discount (up to $10) when riders use the app’s "Go Vote" tile to book a ride.

When do polls open and close?  

Polls will be open on Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Where do I go to vote?

Voters can find their polling location and ballots here: ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/toolkit/polling-location/               

OHIO VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS             

Valid types of photo identification include:            

  • Ohio driver's license 
  • State of Ohio ID card 
  • Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV 
  • US passport 
  • US passport card 
  • US military ID card 
  • Ohio National Guard ID card 
  • US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card           

All photo IDs must have an expiration date that has not passed.   

What if you forget your ID on Election Day? You will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. For that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than four days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification. 

Ohio law prohibits acceptance of the following forms of ID:    

  • Out-of-state driver’s license or photo ID 
  • Social Security card 
  • Birth certificate 
  • Insurance card 
  • Utility bill 
  • Bank statement 
  • Government check 
  • Paycheck 
  • Other government document 
  • Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections

Before You Leave, Check This Out