Registered voters can ride VIA for free on Election Day

Bus riders can get to the polls for free on Super Tuesday, March 1, when VIA Metropolitan Transit will begin waiving fares for registered voters on all federal, state and municipal election days. Bus riders can get to the polls for free on Super Tuesday, March 1, when VIA Metropolitan Transit will begin waiving fares for registered voters on all federal, state and municipal election days. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Registered voters can ride VIA for free on Election Day 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

For the first time, VIA Metropolitan Transit is offering free rides on Election Day to riders registered to vote.

Starting Tuesday, which is primary election day, riders who show a current, valid voter registration card upon boarding the bus can travel for free throughout VIA’s service area on all election days, whether federal, state or municipal. Voters who use VIAtrans, a service for riders with disabilities, can also ride for free.

District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg said he hoped the change would make voting easier for those who rely on transit and improve participation at the polls. During the last primary elections in 2012, about 12 percent of registered voters in Bexar County cast a ballot, according to county records.

“We know San Antonio has a lot of work to do with regard to civic participation and voter turnout, and this is one step — a significant step — that will help us remove an obstacle that many people find on their way to vote,” he said.

VIA’s Board of Trustees approved the initiative at its board meeting Tuesday. Hope Andrade, chairwoman of the board, said the offer will give voters less of an excuse to skip the polls.

“Everyone is involved in this effort to increase voter turnout, which is so important to us,” she said. “Texas is always proud to be No. 1 in so many things, but we’re not No. 1 in voter turnout.”

kblunt@express-news.net

Twitter: @katherineblunt