Free fares

or through the Metro Bike Share app.

Metro has created an interactive map that shows in-person voting centers with a blue star, and ballot boxes with a yellow check mark. The L.A. County registrar's office will have 644 regional Vote Centers open today. They are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Drop boxes

Also, if you've got that ballot ready, voters can reach any of the nine voteby-mail drop boxes situated at the following Metro stations:

El Monte Bus Station, Harbor Freeway Station, Harbor Gateway Transit Center, Hollywood/Western Station, North Hollywood Station B, Norwalk Station, Westlake/MacArthur Park Station, Wilshire/Vermont Station, and at LA's Union Station in the eastern portal.

Long Beach Transit's free rides will be on their buses that span a service area of 100 square miles across 14 cities in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Besides Long Beach, Long Beach Transit goes to Carson, Lakewood, Paramount, Signal Hill, Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Compton, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Alamitos, Norwalk and Seal Beach.

Also, Long Beach Transit is offering free rides on its Dial-A-Lift, a paratransit service for those with mobility limitations. Rolling to the polls

Will not having to pay what is usually $1.75 per ride each way on Metro buses and trains encourage voter turnout for this 2024 Presidential Primary in L.A. County?

That remains to be seen. But Metro and others say it can't hurt.

“I think it helps because they've consolidated these voting centers. Generally, we are supportive of the idea of having more farefree days as a way to promote public transit as a

civic and public service,” said Eli Lipmen, executive director of Move L.A. on Monday.

He said free mass transit may especially help the aging population get to the polls or to a drop-off box. “A lot of campaigns will drive older adults who cannot drive and drive them to the polls. Now they do have an option,” Lipmen added.

Metro began offering free rides on all federal and state election days in 2019, while Long Beach Transit started in 2018.

A listing of local Vote Centers, including operating hours is available at https://locator.lavote.net/. For more information, visit www.metro.net.