Free rides aim to remove transport barriers to voting
The City of Pasadena announced that Pasadena Transit buses and Dial‑A‑Ride will operate fare‑free on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, a move city officials described as intended to make it easier for residents to reach polling places and ballot drop boxes.
Pasadena said most polling locations and official ballot drop boxes lie within a quarter‑mile of a Pasadena Transit stop, and the city framed the temporary waiver as part of efforts to provide "free, convenient, and accessible service to voting sites." The measure supplements similar fare‑free initiatives across the Los Angeles region, where transit agencies including Metro, LADOT and several municipal operators are also removing fares for Election Day.
What services and hours are affected
Pasadena Transit lists schedules for 10 routes, all of which will be free for riders on Nov. 3. Dial‑A‑Ride, the city’s paratransit service for residents 60 and older and for younger riders with Access memberships or disabled reduced‑fare TAP cards, will also run without charge.
- Dial‑A‑Ride normal hours: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (weekdays)
- Normal Dial‑A‑Ride fare: 75 cents each way
- Dial‑A‑Ride reservations: (626) 791‑7200 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Metro extended its fare waiver across multiple modes from 4 a.m. Nov. 3 to 3 a.m. Nov. 4, covering buses, rail, Metro Bike Share and Metro Micro. Metro’s board adopted a policy in 2019 to provide free rides on federal and statewide election days.
| Service | Normal fare | Election Day status |
|---|---|---|
| Pasadena Transit buses | Varies (local) | Free on Nov. 3 |
| Dial‑A‑Ride | $0.75 each way | Free on Nov. 3 |
| Metro (buses, trains, bike share, Metro Micro) | Varies | Free 4 a.m. Nov. 3–3 a.m. Nov. 4 |
Context: turnout and access in Los Angeles County
The free‑fare announcement arrives as Los Angeles County prepares an expanded array of vote centers and drop boxes. County officials will open 123 vote centers beginning Saturday, Oct. 24, and a further 523 centers starting Oct. 31, for a total of 646 vote centers, supported by 429 official ballot drop boxes. Vote centers are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Voter participation in midterm general elections has lagged in recent cycles: in November 2022, 43.86% of Los Angeles County’s 5,601,835 registered voters cast ballots, compared with a statewide turnout of 50.80%, according to the California Secretary of State. City officials and transit agencies argue that transportation difficulties can suppress turnout, particularly for seniors, people with disabilities and residents without reliable private vehicles.
Practical notes for Pasadena voters
Residents who missed the Oct. 19 deadline to register for a mail ballot may still vote in person at any Los Angeles County Vote Center starting Oct. 24. Mailed ballots that are postmarked by Election Day must be received by Nov. 10 to be counted. Transit riders planning to use Dial‑A‑Ride should note the reservation window and the normal 75‑cent fare, which will be waived for Election Day.
“Free, convenient, and accessible service to voting sites,”
The city’s announcement signals a recognition that transit policy intersects directly with civic participation. For Pasadena, where officials have highlighted the proximity of transit stops to polling locations, the temporary fare waiver is intended to lower the cost and logistical hurdles of voting.
How much the free service will affect turnout in Pasadena on Nov. 3 remains to be seen, but the policy aligns Pasadena with a broader regional approach to reducing barriers to voting on Election Day.
