{"id":75082,"date":"2026-07-30T17:58:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=75082"},"modified":"2026-07-30T17:58:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:58:43","slug":"citrus-connection-to-offer-free-bus-rides-for-voters-during-early-voting-and-on-election-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/07\/30\/citrus-connection-to-offer-free-bus-rides-for-voters-during-early-voting-and-on-election-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Citrus Connection to offer free bus rides for voters during early voting and on Election Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"8a8b33\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"546\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image001-2-1024x546.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-75084 has-transparency\" style=\"--dominant-color: #8a8b33; aspect-ratio:1.87548341412931;width:459px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image001-2-1024x546.webp 1024w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image001-2-300x160.webp 300w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image001-2-768x410.webp 768w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image001-2-1536x819.webp 1536w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image001-2-2048x1092.webp 2048w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Citrus Connection is making it easier for Polk County residents to participate in the democratic process by offering free fixed-route bus service to voters during the 2026 Early Voting period and on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The initiative, approved by the Citrus Connection Board of Directors, is designed to eliminate transportation barriers and encourage civic engagement by providing convenient, free transportation to polling locations throughout Polk County. Passengers need to present their voter registration card to the bus operator to ride free on any Citrus Connection fixed-route bus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe collaboration between Citrus Connection and the Polk County Supervisor of Elections office is a fantastic thing,\u201d said Lakeland City Commissioner and LAMTD Board Member Terry Coney.\u00a0 \u201cAny idea to enhance the voting process for the citizens of Polk County, especially providing a transportation resource to the polls for citizens in need, is important. The Citrus Connection ride to the polls program allows more citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote and select the leadership to represent them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Public transportation serves thousands of Polk County residents every day. It is uniquely positioned to help reduce obstacles that can prevent individuals from exercising one of their most fundamental rights &#8211; the right to vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We appreciate Citrus Connection&#8217;s partnership in helping make voting more accessible,\u201d said Polk Supervisor of Elections, Melony Bell.&nbsp;\u201cProviding free transportation during Early Voting and on Election Day helps ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Free Ride Dates<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early Voting<br>Sunday, Oct. 18 \u2013 Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026<br>9:00 a.m. \u2013 6:00 p.m. daily<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Election Day<br>Tuesday, Nov. 3<br>7:00 a.m. \u2013 7:00 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2026 Early Voting Locations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bartow \u2013 Polk Street Community Center, 1255 Polk Street<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Davenport \u2013 Polk Sheriff&#8217;s Northeast District Office Community Room, 1100 Dunson Road<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haines City \u2013 Haines City Library, 111 N. 6th Street<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lake Alfred \u2013 Northeast Polk Government Center, 200 Government Center Boulevard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lake Wales \u2013 Lake Wales Family Recreation Center, 1001 Burns Avenue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lakeland \u2013 Polk County Government Center, 930 E. Parker Street<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lakeland \u2013 Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mulberry \u2013 Mulberry Civic Center, 901 NE 5th Street<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poinciana \u2013 Poinciana Community Fitness Center, 397 Marigold Avenue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Winter Haven \u2013 Nora Mayo Hall, 500 3rd Street NW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Public transportation plays a vital role in connecting our community to jobs, healthcare, education, and essential services including the opportunity to vote,&#8221; said Tom Phillips, CEO of Citrus Connection. &#8220;By removing transportation barriers, we&#8217;re helping ensure that every eligible voter has access to the polls and the opportunity to make their voice heard.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voters are encouraged to plan their trip in advance by visiting the Citrus Connection website or using the My Stop Mobile app to view routes and schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more information about Citrus Connection routes and schedules, visit RideCitrus.com or call the Customer Service Center at 855-POLKBUS (855-765-5287).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Citrus Connection is making it easier for Polk County residents to participate in the democratic process by offering free fixed-route bus service to voters during the 2026 Early Voting period&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":75084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","default_image_id":71799,"font":"","enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNlwvMDdcL2ltYWdlMDAxLTItc2NhbGVkLndlYnA_Zml0PTEwMjQlMkM1NDYmc3NsPTEiLCJ0eHQiOiJDaXRydXMgQ29ubmVjdGlvbiB0byBvZmZlciBmcmVlIGJ1cyByaWRlcyBmb3Igdm90ZXJzIGR1cmluZyBlYXJseSB2b3RpbmcgYW5kIG9uIEVsZWN0aW9uIERheSIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiZG9pcyIsImZvbnQiOiIiLCJibG9nX2lkIjoxNjMwNDA2NjF9.uMZx5O0JXTwRxHfCk3rV2JTXbWbmMO5uK98S68bEMeMMQ"},"version":2,"media_source":"sig","attached_media":[{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/jetpack.com\/redirect\/?source=sigenerate&query=t%3DeyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNlwvMDdcL2ltYWdlMDAxLTItc2NhbGVkLndlYnA_Zml0PTEwMjQlMkM1NDYmc3NsPTEiLCJ0eHQiOiJDaXRydXMgQ29ubmVjdGlvbiB0byBvZmZlciBmcmVlIGJ1cyByaWRlcyBmb3Igdm90ZXJzIGR1cmluZyBlYXJseSB2b3RpbmcgYW5kIG9uIEVsZWN0aW9uIERheSIsInRlbXBsYXRlIjoiZG9pcyIsImZvbnQiOiIiLCJibG9nX2lkIjoxNjMwNDA2NjF9.uMZx5O0JXTwRxHfCk3rV2JTXbWbmMO5uK98S68bEMeMMQ","type":"image\/jpeg"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[12,14],"tags":[165,1432,15394,15393,15398,15396,15395],"class_list":["post-75082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","category-news","tag-citrus-connection","tag-early-voting","tag-election-day","tag-free-bus-rides","tag-polk-county-elections","tag-public-transportation","tag-voting-access"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75082"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75085,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75082\/revisions\/75085"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}