Voters in Detroit have a convenient option to reach polling stations this upcoming Election Day, thanks to the city’s Department of Transportation. In a bid to encourage voter turnout, free bus rides will be available throughout the day.
Detroit city clerk Janice Winfrey announced, “They’re totally free, from sunup to sundown. You can ride the bus, and we want you to use those buses to go to your polling locations and vote. If you are a poll worker, use those buses to go to your polling site to work.”
The initiative aims to remove transportation as a barrier for voters. In collaboration with the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), free rides will also be extended to the city’s suburbs, ensuring broader accessibility.
No identification or specific reason is required to board these buses. As Robert Cramer, the executive director of DDOT, explained, the transport system will be open to everyone on Election Day. “You don’t have to be a certain resident of a different community,” said Cramer. “You don’t have to say that you’re going to vote or anything. The whole day will be free for anyone that needs to ride. No questions asked.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Baxter, chief of operations for the Detroit elections department, reported that 99,000 voters have been issued absentee ballots. He expects about two-thirds of voters will opt for early and absentee voting, while the remainder will visit the polls in person.
Mark your calendars for Election Day on Tuesday, November 4, with polls operating from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story had the incorrect day for the election. It is November 4, 2025.
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