Elections

Free Election Day Uber Rides Being Offered In Philadelphia To Help Hillary Clinton

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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A liberal super PAC — hoping to increase turnout for Hillary Clinton in the urban areas of Pennsylvania — is offering free Uber and Lyft rides on election day to voters in the Democratic stronghold of Philadelphia.

Polls show Republican Donald Trump closing the gap on Clinton in the Keystone State, and Democrats are now devoting more resources and attention to the state.

It also comes as SEPTA — the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority — remains on strike, so buses, trolleys and subway lines are shutdown.

“The best way you can help Hillary now: fund rides to the polls,” liberal Arianna Huffington tweeted, linking to a crowd funding website for the effort.

As of Sunday, the My Ride to Vote PAC crowd funding site indicated $211,519 has been raised for the effort. The group says its goal is raising $850,000.

The Real Clear Politics polling average in Pennsylvania shows Clinton up by just 2.4 points.

Both candidates are campaigning in Pennsylvania on Monday, the day before the election. Trump will be in Scranton. Clinton will be in Pittsburg and Philadelphia, where she’ll be joined by President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton.

“If Donald Trump loses Pennsylvania, he won’t be President Trump,” the crowd funding site says. “In a razor-thin margin, the difference between winning and losing that battleground state is 110,000 votes – that means we need to find a way to pay for at least that many rides for voters who need them on Election Day.”

By using the “VotePA” PROMO codes on Lyft and Uber, riders can get $15 off their ride to the polls and $15 off their ride back.

“Rides for people who are under family, work or financial pressure, no spare time,” the site says. “For first time voters and immigrants. For people of color, millennials and seniors.”

The crowd funding website said rides are also being offered in North Carolina and Florida cities too.

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