Picture of political campaign buttons.

It’s About More Than Rides to the Polls

It’s the time on Election Day, every year, where I am reading with a smile about everyone getting out and voting and I stumble across the inevitable question: “How can I give people rides to the polls?” As a former political field organizer, I cringe at this question.

When I was a political field organizer, come Election Day, I was inundated with well-meaning civic-minded citizens wanting to give people rides the polls. The Capraesque feeling that must come from giving an octogenarian, slow moving but quick-witted, a ride to the polls so they can exercise their duty to help choose our elected officials as a member of our representative democracy must be a high akin to heroin. Everyone wants a taste.

I wouldn’t know. I have never given rides to the polls as I was busy working to win the election. […]