Midwest Transportation Corp. is offering free rides to Lawrence residents who would like to vote Election Day at any of the city’s 49 polling places.

Just call ahead to schedule a ride, and one of two six-seat Ford Windstar vans will provide door-to-door service between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2.

“We’re just doing this as a way to say ‘thank you’ to the community,” said Dave Old, manager of Midwest Transportation, 301 Maple St. “Now there’s no excuse not to vote.”

With Lawrence’s mass transit system, the T, also offering free rides on its buses that day, election officials say they are pleased to know that yet another potential barrier to voting — lack of transportation — will be lifted.

“I think everybody should take advantage of voting, particularly if they’ve gone to the trouble of getting themselves registered,” said Patty Jaimes, whose office is offering advance voting through Nov. 1, including extended hours Wednesday, Thursday and Oct. 30. “They need to complete the process and vote.

“If that means using the T or a taxi, they should take advantage of it.”

Midwest Transportation’s free rides follow up on other community services such as providing rides from the Boys & Girls Club to an area pumpkin patch.

The rides to polling places allow the company to offer even more service to a broader section of the community, Old said. And with more than 51,000 Lawrence residents registered to vote in the upcoming election, he knows his dispatchers and drivers could be plenty busy Nov. 2.

Dave Old, manager of Midwest Transportation Corp., explains how the company will offer free taxi rides for Lawrence voters who need a ride to the polls on Election Day. Old, who discussed the plan Friday at the company's shop in North Lawrence, said rides would be offered from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2.

Voters seeking free transportation should call by midnight Nov. 1 to secure a spot, he said. The company expects to provide up to 250 rides to the polls, but is equipped to handle dozens — even hundreds — more.

“We’ll make arrangements to take care of everybody,” he said.

6News video: Company to offer free rides to polls on election day

Midwest Transportation’s cab rides average $8 in Lawrence, or $16 round-trip.