The State Election Board has ruled that ridesharing service Lyft violated a Georgia law when it offered discounted rides to the polls on Election Day.
By a 3-1 vote, the board said the rides amounted to paying for votes, with one member saying it unfairly benefited voters in metro areas. The violation comes without a fine or criminal prosecution, but the board voted to send a letter to Lyft informing the company of the infraction.
A Democratic member of the board said Lyft’s ride-to-the-polls program was similar to church and community groups that assist voters. Lyft’s program was available to all Georgia voters, and voters weren’t asked who they would vote for. It’s unclear whether Lyft drivers were readily available in rural areas.
