The Twin Cities Offer Free Election Day Transit—Does it Matter?

There is little, or no, evidence that offering free transit on election day improves voter turnout. Today the Twin Cities will do it anyway for the sake of, hopefully, improving the democratic process.

1 minute read

November 4, 2014, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"On Tuesday, Metro Transit—the Twin Cities’ growing public transportation network—will offer bus, light rail, and commuter rail services free of charge," reports Sam Sturgis. "This is in response to a statewide law passed last year that requires Minnesota’s cities to provide free public transit on national election days. This is pretty uncommon: Only a handful of major U.S. cities—including Dallas, Houston, Tampa, and now the Twin Cities—offer complimentary transit on election day."

Sturgis notes that free transit has a "negligible influence on the number of voters that turn out to the polls" in those cities. The most important factor in getting people to vote is enthusiasm.

But Sturgis also argues at the article's conclusion that maybe cities should offer free transit despite any evidence that it might improve turnouts, by quoting Yale political scientist Alan S. Geber: "Making transportation free on election day is a clear statement that society values voting…"

Monday, November 3, 2014 in CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee