The City of Greensboro is putting extra resources in place this election season to make it easier for residents to get to the polls.
Downtown parking decks will be offering the first hour free – a perk aimed at those casting ballots at the Guilford County Courthouse during early voting.
For those who rely on public transportation, the Greensboro Transit Agency – aka GTA – will provide fare-free bus service on both primary and general election days, making it possible to get to polling places with no cost.
City of Greensboro officials are also working hand in hand with the Guilford County Board of Elections to improve accessibility at the Old Guilford County Court House, including offering designated parking and the option for voters to remain in their vehicles while casting ballots during early voting.
To keep the traffic on Election Day flowing, roadwork near polling places will be limited to emergency repairs only. GTA and the Greensboro Department of Transportation will also have staff taking part in the county’s Emergency Operations Center, which means they’ll be ready to respond in real time to any transit or roadway issues that come up.
These steps are part of a broader effort to prevent the kinds of problems that have slowed or thwarted Greensboro voters in past elections. In previous years, construction detours and downtown congestion have led to complaints from voters about the difficulty of finding parking or reaching polling places.
In some neighborhoods, limited bus routes also made it hard for residents without cars to get to the polls.
Turnout in municipal primaries is frequently low – often around 5 percent or so – and local leaders have pointed out that barriers like transportation or parking can make that percentage even smaller. By eliminating bus fares and offering short-term free parking, city officials are hoping to remove at least some of the obstacles.
