A practical civic project
Polls & Back is a free Election Day transportation-coordination project serving the Des Moines metro, with nearby Central Iowa communities included as approved volunteer capacity allows. Its purpose is narrow and concrete: connect people who need transportation with vetted volunteer drivers and provide the infrastructure needed to coordinate the ride to the polls and back home.
The project begins from a basic public-duty principle: access to the ballot should not depend on owning a car, affording a commercial ride, or accepting a political pitch.
Why the project exists
Transportation barriers are mundane, which makes them easy to overlook. A person may be registered and ready to vote but still lack a vehicle, accessible transportation, a reliable support network, or enough money for a round trip. Polls & Back is built to answer that problem directly through organized local capacity.
How the service is organized
Polls & Back vets volunteer drivers and provides the intake, dispatch, communications, and recordkeeping infrastructure used to coordinate rides. Approved volunteers provide transportation using their own vehicles. Individuals and drivers connected with existing community groups may apply; every driver is reviewed under the same program standards.
Public service without political ownership
The project is nonpartisan by rule. Riders are not political leads. Volunteers are not campaign representatives. Transportation is not offered in exchange for support. Polls & Back may protect access to voting without claiming ownership over anyone’s vote.
Powered by ARGUS | Operator Interface
ARGUS is RG Herd’s operator system for intake, assignments, volunteer status, communications, operational notes, and coordinated response. For Polls & Back, it becomes ARGUS Ride Desk: the internal layer that helps authorized dispatchers match requests with approved volunteer drivers and keep return trips from becoming disconnected handoffs.
Riders will use a simple public request process. Operational access is limited by role to authorized reviewers, dispatchers, and approved drivers. The public does not need an ARGUS account.
An RG Herd civic project
RG Herd builds and operates independent community infrastructure for communication, coordination, public information, and practical support. Polls & Back applies that infrastructure to a focused Election Day need.
Collection, access, retention, and deletion practices are published in the privacy notice.
Polls & Back is not affiliated with a political party, candidate, campaign, political action committee, or government election office. Official election information remains the responsibility of the Iowa Secretary of State and county auditors.
2026 pilot scope
- Election
- Iowa General Election, Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Initial area
- Des Moines metro, with exact boundaries based on approved capacity
- Rider price
- Free
- Public posture
- Nonpartisan civic transportation
- Operations
- ARGUS Ride Desk
Site map
- Request a rideCurrent booking status and rider process
- VolunteerDrivers, dispatchers, organizers, and sponsors
- How it worksRequest, assignment, ride, and return
- Service rulesNonpartisan conduct, safety, and rider boundaries
- PrivacyCollection, access, retention, and deletion practices
- Frequently asked questionsRider and volunteer answers