WASHINGTON — Zipcar will let its members get behind the wheel for free on Election Night, but it’ll only work for late voters.
Zipcar says it will make more than 7,000 vehicles across the United States, including 800 vehicles in the Washington area, free for its members to encourage them to get out and vote. Select vehicles will be available for free from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.in all markets where Zipcar operates.
Considering polls close in Maryland and D.C. at 8 p.m. and in Virginia at 7 p.m., that could be a tight squeeze — unless lines are long.
“We extended past polls closing to ensure members were not paying for their trip if they had to wait in long lines after closing time,” Zipcar’s Lindsay Wester tells WTOP.
Zipcar also is looking for Election Day votes regarding its own fleet.
“We’ll be hosting a fun voting boot from a Zipcar vehicle to get people to select their favorite Zipcar types and fun car names. This will be hosted right outside Zipcar’s D.C. office,” Wester said.
Zipcar claims its membership is a diverse voter base, ranging from 18 to 93 years old, including a large number of Generation Z and millennial members on more than 500 college and university campuses.
It’s using the Twitter hashtag #DRIVEtheVOTE to promote the free rentals.
Done voting before Zipcar’s deadline? The meter still doesn’t start running until 10 p.m.