Durham organization removes barriers to voting, driving over 500 voters to the polls

To help remove any barricades to potentially voting, Durham voters are being given rides to early voting sites.

Volunteers with the grassroots organization Durham Drives have been at the Durham Bus Station, faithfully, since day one of early voting, prepared to drive hundreds of voters to the polls, making sure no one is left behind.

From behind their table beneath their tent, you hear volunteers shout, "Have you had a chance to vote? Awesome. Every vote counts!"

A trip to the bus stop led one man to a pivotal moment in his life: His first experience voting in an election.

Antoine Ford, a new Durham voter, was there to catch the bus and curiously approached the table.

“It was something I was trying to do for a long time," he said, "And I finally got out to do it thanks to the people right here.”

Hannah McKnight, founder of Durham Drivers, has worked alongside many other young Durhamites, mobilizing to meet the greater transportation needs of this election year posed by the pandemic.

“A lot of it comes with just providing the framework and the structure to give someone the opportunity [to vote]," said McKnight.

“Now we have over 350 volunteers – just from a short social media campaign," she said. "And we have driven over 550 voters to the polls. Around 40% of them have been first time voters.”

“At the end of the day it’s not as much about the votes and the numbers it is about the wonderful people that were getting to meet and we’re getting to drive," said McKnight.

As for Ford, who was once discouraged to get out and vote – he's motivated by this experience.

“It’s a lot on the line," said Ford. "And I think people just need to step up. If you’re old enough, and you got the right to do it, you just need to step up and do it.”