For some, getting to polling stations on Election Day proves to be a hassle. MATBUS provides a solution.

Julie Bommelman, MATBUS’ transit director, said MATBUS has been helping people get to the polls for at least the previous 18 years by providing free rides to customers.

MATBUS will be providing free rides on Election Day, also known as “fare free day,” on rides going to polling stations. This includes MATBUS’ para-transit system.

Bommelman said though the free fare day has been incorporated due to the cities of Fargo and Moorhead thinking it is important, the day is important to her personally.

She said the day was created so that everybody could have their voice heard.

“We want to give equal opportunity and take away any transportation barriers if they choose to vote. We’d like to offer that,” Bommelman said.

MATBUS does not have any bias or political affiliation, however Bommelman said she hopes the free rides encourage people to vote.

The main difference between MATBUS services offered in Fargo as opposed to Moorhead is that the state of Minnesota is more geared towards public transportation, so Moorhead has been practicing free rides to the polls for much longer than Fargo.

North Dakota State students, including students who are residents of states beside North Dakota, who live on the NDSU campus may vote at the Fargodome. Those students must have lived in North Dakota for at least the previous 30 days, though.

The goal of MATBUS freeing their rides is to encourage people to vote, even those who are disinclined to do so.

Bommelman said voting is a “nice way to get out there and do what we can.”