Uber Offers ‘Freedom Rides’ to Voters on Election Day
— -- The on-demand private driving service Uber is hoping to make Election Day easier for voters by offering "Freedom Rides" to and from polling stations.
The Uber app teamed up with Rock the Vote to give all first time users of the service a free ride to the polls, as long as they download the app and enter the promotion code VOTEUBER during sign-up. Then a town car will take you to cast a ballot.
"It's important for all Americans to exercise their right to vote, and with a free Uber ride, everyone has an equal opportunity to get to the polls," Uber spokesman Max Crowley tells Mashable.
There are a few small print considerations about Uber's offer. Only the first $20.12 of the trip will be free, then they turn on the meter. The ride must take place during voting hours in your area, and previous Uber members can't get a free ride. But Uber does say that they will be offering special rates for all members on Election Day.
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But we mostly question Uber's choice of their service name – Freedom Rides. In the 1960s, freedom rides were comprised of civil rights activists who rode buses to the south in an effort to question Supreme Court decisions, like the Jim Crow transportation laws.
Crowley said they didn't base their promotion on the historical events, but more so, "celebrating democracy and the fact that we have the freedom to vote."
The app is available for both iOS and Android, and the service can be accessed in any of the 14 cities Uber operates in.
Do you think you'll use this tomorrow? Tell us in the comments below.