It’s almost time for the municipal elections here in Pittsburgh

We’ve been thinking more than ever about the importance of transportation equity in ensuring every vote is cast and counted. Transportation access and mobility options directly impact people’s ability to vote and have their voices heard. The most mobile members of our society will have the easiest time voting this Election Day. The people they elect will shape policy at the local level around the very transportation and mobility structures that may have kept other eligible voters from getting to the polls.

Issues of mobility and access

People who do not have access to a vehicle, who depend on public transportation, and those with disabilities will have a harder time voting in this local election – an election where their votes can make even more of a difference towards improving local transportation infrastructure.

We still face a variety of equity issues in the current voting process

This is a problem that disproportionately affects some groups more than others. A 2016 Survey of the Performance of American Elections found that 30 percent of registered youth voters did not vote because they said they couldn’t get to the polls. Add to that the fact that Black voters, on average, can expect to wait 45 percent longer to vote than white voters; Latino voters will wait 46 percent longer. And though Pennsylvania does offer a fairly accessible system for online registration and mail-in ballots, some may not have access to a computer, printer, or internet to take advantage of this option. 

Concerns about voter mobility – how to make sure that every eligible voter has the ability to get to the polls – are even more heightened in local elections. The number of volunteer services available to improve access (such as free rides to the polls) is not as widespread or available as they are during federal elections. This is a huge factor in voter turnout, with many voters struggling to find the time to travel to the polls between work, their family, and other responsibilities. For many, it may be the case that they have to choose between their job or family and voting.

Biking, walking, and public transit are critical components to ensuring equitable access

Our votes this November will determine the administration that will make critically important local decisions about the transportation infrastructure here in Pittsburgh that will be used by citizens for years to come. We must vote to ensure all mobility options are adequately funded, and make our voices heard for those who may not have been able to make it to the polls due to transportation or other intersectional challenges. By voting for candidates who support transportation equity, you are helping others get to the polls in years to come and making sure that every American can exercise their right to participate in the democratic process.

All of this to say…

Make sure to vote on (or by) Tuesday, November 2nd!

Check your voter registration status HERE.

Find your polling place HERE to vote in-person on Election Day.

If you are voting by mail, remember that mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by 8 pm on Election Day in order to be counted.
Or, drop off your mail-in ballot at the Allegheny County Elections Office by Tuesday, November 2nd at 8:00 pm.