The Akron chapter of the NAACP is offering free rides to people having trouble getting to the Summit County Board of Elections to register to vote or to cast a ballot before election day.
"As you know, the gas is high nowadays and they'll say, 'I can't afford a cab. I cannot do this,'" said Chapter President Ophelia Averitt. "We're offering them a ride to the polls, not telling them how to vote. That is their personal business."
For people who need to register to vote in the November election, time is running out. Today is the last day. The board of elections is open until tonight at 9:00.
The NAACP is thought of as an organization that caters exclusively to African-Americans. But Averitt says they help anyone and that includes white people who need help, too.
"Oh, certainly," said Averitt. "Do you know that a third of my members, including the mayor (Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic) and all of them are members of this association?"
Averitt says the free rides are good through the early voting cycle and includes anybody in Akron. Call 330.869.8955 or 330.865.6801 for more information.
