Madison, WI: In anticipation of what is sure to be a significant midterm election on November 6, 2018, Union Cab Of Madison Cooperative is gearing up for their seventh year of providing free rides to and from the polls for Madison area voters.

While Union Cab members often volunteered to drive voters to the polls in prior years (since the late 90s), Democracy in Motion was officially formalized in 2011 in the wake of Act 10. The Budget Repair Bill and subsequent protests got many more people in the community involved in local politics and renewed an interest in participating in the Democratic process. In response, and wanting to take some kind of positive action, Union Cab expanded their non-partisan effort to help get out the vote.

Not everyone has access to a polling place without transportation and not everyone can afford a ride there. Being a worker cooperative with one worker/one vote, making sure everyone has access to voting is especially important to Union Cab. The second Cooperative Principle of democratic member control speaks to the belief that everyone’s voice should be heard.  Removing the barrier of lack of transportation speaks to the company’s Vision Statement of “serving our community in such a way that Union Cab is recognized as a sustainable asset and valuable resource by all.”

In the 2016 general election Union Cab gave a total of 535 free rides through the program. They have provided 230 rides so far in 2018 for three elections.  Riders can take the free ride from their home to their polling place and back. If getting home first isn’t a viable option, they can ride from their workplace. Poll workers are eligible for rides to and from anywhere. Reserving ahead of time is encouraged!

Rides are offered to voters in Madison and the following connecting municipalities:
Sun Prairie, Middleton, Monona, Shorewood, Town of Madison, Town of Blooming Grove (segments within Madison), Town of Burke (segments within Madison), Maple Bluff, and Fitchburg.

In addition, Union Cab will be partnering again with The League Of Women Voters of Dane County and the Dane County Voter ID Coalition to give rides before the election to the DMV to acquire a Voter ID. To set up those rides, voters should contact the Dane County Voter ID Coalition.

www.unioncab.com ● (608) 242-2000 ● Serving Madison since 1979