NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – Organizations across the Lowcountry are working to provide free rides to the polls so everyone can exercise their rights on Election Day.

The Airport Limo Taxi Association at Charleston International Airport is one of many organizations working to get registered voters to the polls.

The association has partnered with several different transportation companies at the airport, as well as local churches and community volunteers to provide free rides to anyone who wants to vote.

They are well prepared with the participation of eight independent companies.

The leaders behind this initiative believe that everyone deserves to have their voice heard. Abdel Bahlaq is the owner of S&S Taxi Services, one of the participants in the “Transport to Vote” initiative. He says he believes this is important to ensure everyone can vote in this important election.

“We try to attract as many people as possible. As you know, there is a saying: “we vote, we win”. So the impact we are trying to achieve is to offer as many free rides as possible – safely and easily – to all our customers, and also to help show that we are all in this together,” says Bahlaq.

This is the first year they are implementing this “Transport to Vote” initiative. They plan to serve community members in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. They will pick up people from their homes, their jobs, community centers or wherever they need them. They will take voters to the polls and take them home, all for free.

“We’re trying to make it accessible to all of our citizens in our community to make sure they have their voices heard. As you know, this is a right and we try to contribute to the exercise of this right by offering free rides. Some of them are disabled. Some of them are seniors. They might have difficulty getting to polling places. It can get a little confusing for them. So, by offering free rides, we encourage our community to vote,” explains Bahlaq.

Interested parties should call them to arrange a time and location.

To schedule a ride, interested parties can call (843) 607-5456 or email [email protected]. They are asking that all trips be scheduled by the end of Monday so they can organize everything. Polling stations will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Although these rides are free, they will accept donations as it is a costly initiative for these companies. Donations will be accepted in the form of cash, check or electronic funds transfer through platforms like Venmo, Zelle, CashApp or PayPal.

Other organizations offering free rides to voters are the SC Coalition for Voter Participation and the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority.

The SC Coalition for Voter Participation will offer rides to residents of Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Lexington and Orangeburg counties. Rides can be reserved by calling (843) 225-0822 or toll-free (833) 348-7350. More information about free CARTA travel to polling places can be found here.

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