Voters In Charlotte North Carolina Can Get Free Rides On CATS Transit For Election Day

It's election day.  And, voters in Charlotte, North Carolina can get free rides on CATS transit for the day.  CATS, or Charlotte Area Transit System, declared transit services are fare-free for election day.

So, with that stumbling block of getting to the polls being removed, get out and vote!  The election day free rides includes bus transit, the LYNX Blue Line, CityLYNX Gold line and paratransit services.  According to CATS website, the hope is voters will have easier  access to the polls.  Paratransit offers services to riders with disabilities who are unable to access fixed routes buses.  To use paratransit, call 704-336-2637 for scheduling.  Eligibility factors apply.  See the website for more.

And, if you'd like to take advantage of the free rides for election day, download the CATS-Pass app.  This helps for scouting out your route to be more efficient.  It offers a seamless way to plan and pay for trips right on your smartphone.  The plan tool on the CATS-Pass app helps riders create personalized trips.  And, real-time data is available.

Plus, when it comes to safety, the CATS See Say allows riders a discreet way to report suspicious activity to CATS police.  It provides a means for sending pictures, texts and locations of suspicious people or activities.  For more information on CATS and election day free rides, visit their website.  And, to get more information on voting and polling locations, visit the Mecklenburg County site.

We are living in an incredibly politically charged time. It seems like the entire world revolves around politics, or at least some people's whole world. And for the most part that is a good thing. Citizens' involvement is key to the system of democracy. Letting those political views sway your opinion of individuals or tear apart relationships with friends or family. I have a hard time with that. But enough of that soapbox. Despite what seems like a hyper-politicization of our world there is actually a decline in Americans' trust in government and as a result political engagement. And both North and South Carolina were ranked as some of the least politically engaged states in the country.

This is a result of a survey/analysis conducted by WalletHub. As Election Day is approaching WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 10 key indicators of political engagement. They range from the percentage of registered voters in the 2020 presidential election to total political contributions per adult population. Keep in mind that WalletHub reports only 66.8% of age-eligible citizens voted in 2020. And that was a record 155 million voters. And of developed nations, the US ranks near the bottom- 30th out of 35- for voter turnout. Voting is such a privilege and integral to our country.

While there are several issues at stake with the upcoming elections, turnout will most likely be lower for the midterms. Presidential elections bring the largest numbers almost always. Senate races will be key and North Carolina is a battleground state with everything at stake. But this study ranks both North and South Carolina in the bottom third of states. Keep reading to see exactly where North and South Carolina ranked on the list of politically engaged states, as well as the top 10. Or read the full analysis here.

**According To WalletHub**

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):  N/A

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   74.20%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   53.40%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   77.50%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   49.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   71.90%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   36.70%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   76.00%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   42.90%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   74.90%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   42.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   75.20%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   53.90%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   73.40%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   46.90%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   70.40%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   38.80%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   75.10%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):  30.50%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   70.30%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   53.40%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   72.40%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):    42.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   76.0%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   43.90%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   69.50%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   45.40%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   64.80%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   34.60%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   68.00%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   32.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   63.20%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   70.70%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   76.40%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   75.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   82.60%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   51.80%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   76.20%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   52.40%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   77.30%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   56.10%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   79.50%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   69.20%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   84.30%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   53.60%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   71.40%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   52.00%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   81.80%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   47.80%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   67.90%

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24):   63.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+):   76.80%