Lyft will offer half-off rides to the polls on Election Day

Commuters may see some voter information handouts leading up to the Nov. 6 midterms, and on Election Day, some deep discounts courtesy of Lyft.

The rideshare company announced Thursday that it is stepping up efforts to get its users to vote by slashing the cost of rides by 50 percent, and even offering some free rides, on Election Day.

With transportation a huge obstacle to voters – an estimated 15 million in 2016, according to a cited report – Lyft has identified low-income communities and communities of color that could use extra help getting to the polls. The “Ride to Vote” initiative is its effort to remove transportation barriers from the equation.

But Lyft’s work will begin well before Election Day. The company will make efforts to educate the masses ahead of the Nov. 6 election by sending mobile notification to users of the Lyft app and by providing drivers with handouts about voter registration and other voter information. Lyft employees will also be encouraged to register to vote at Lyft offices throughout the country.

According to a company release, “The Ride to Vote” initiative is a partnership between Lyft, Vote.org, Nonprofit Vote, TurboVote, and other groups that include Voto Latino, local Urban League affiliates, and the National Federation of the Blind.

Uber has not announced any similar plans as of Friday.