Nonpartisan by rule
No candidate talk. No ballot-issue advocacy. No partisan clothing, signs, flyers, or pressure from drivers or dispatchers.
Des Moines metro · November 3, 2026
Your vote is yours.
The ride is on us.
Polls & Back will provide free, nonpartisan rides to and from polling places across the Des Moines metro for Iowa’s 2026 General Election.
No fare. No campaign pitch. No judgment. Just a reliable ride to vote—and back home.
See how the service will workThe public duty
Voting should not depend on owning a car.
Transportation is a practical barrier. Polls & Back is a neighbor-powered response: a free ride to the correct polling place, a return trip when voting is complete, and a clear boundary between civic access and political persuasion.
Simple by design
From your door to the polls—and back.
The public request process will be straightforward. Authorized dispatchers will coordinate requests and assignments behind the scenes.
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01
Request
Call, text, or use the ride-request page once booking opens. Tell us the minimum information needed to arrange your trip.
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02
Match
An ARGUS Ride Desk dispatcher confirms the details and assigns an available, approved volunteer driver.
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03
Vote & return
Your driver takes you to your polling place and returns you to the agreed pickup location when you are finished voting.
The line stays clear
A civic service.
Not a campaign.
Every rider should be able to use this service without being profiled, persuaded, judged, or turned into a political contact.
Privacy by design
We collect only the operational information needed to coordinate the service. Access is limited by role, and rider information is never used for campaigning or profiling.
Public access, human help
The request process will be available without an RG Herd account. A real dispatcher can help resolve timing, pickup, and accessibility needs.
Your ballot stays private
We do not need to know how you vote, why you vote, or what is on your ballot. The service begins and ends with transportation.
Built by neighbors
A small shift can protect someone’s voice.
Volunteer driver applications are open. Apply to join the approved driver pool for Election Day service.
Apply to driveDrivers
Provide scheduled Election Day rides using your own safe, insured vehicle.
Dispatchers
Coordinate requests, assignments, rider updates, and returns through ARGUS Ride Desk.
Organizers
Help recruit, train, document procedures, and connect the service with local communities.
Sponsors
Support fuel, printing, phone service, accessibility needs, and operational costs.
Powered by ARGUS | Operator Interface
Coordinated operations—not public surveillance.
Polls & Back is dispatched through ARGUS, RG Herd’s operator system for intake, assignments, volunteer status, communications, and operational records. Riders use a simple public request process. Authorized dispatchers coordinate each assignment behind the scenes.
Approved volunteer drivers provide the rides; ARGUS gives authorized dispatchers the infrastructure to coordinate requests, assignments, updates, and returns.
- One shared operational picture for dispatchers
- Clear ride assignments and status updates
- Accountable records without campaign profiling
Questions, answered
What riders should know.
Official registration and polling-place information should always be confirmed through the Iowa Secretary of State or your county auditor.
Iowa voter informationWho will be able to request a ride?
The service is being designed for voters in the published Des Moines metro coverage area who need transportation to and from their polling place. Final service boundaries will be announced before booking opens.
Is the service really free?
Yes. Riders will not be charged a fare, asked for a donation, or required to support any organization, candidate, party, or ballot position.
Is Polls & Back affiliated with a campaign or party?
No. Polls & Back is a nonpartisan civic transportation project. It is not affiliated with a political party, candidate, campaign, or government election office.
Can a driver talk to me about candidates or issues?
No. Campaigning, persuasion, partisan displays, and ballot advocacy are prohibited during Polls & Back operations.
Will accessibility needs be supported?
The request process will include a way to describe mobility or accessibility needs. Available accommodations will depend on volunteer vehicles and operational capacity, and will be confirmed during scheduling.
When will ride requests open?
Closer to the November 3, 2026 General Election. The public phone, text, and online request options will be posted prominently when they are ready.
Central Iowa · Election Day 2026