Go Wake Forest rides to and from the Joyner Park Community Center early voting site are free Oct. 15-31. Book in the app or at 984-342-2319; Sunday rides now run too.
Rides on Go Wake Forest, the town’s on-demand transit service, will be free to and from the Joyner Park Community Center while early voting runs there, Thursday, Oct. 15, to Saturday, Oct. 31.
The community center at 701 Harris Road is one of 18 early voting sites in Wake County. The Town of Wake Forest announced the fare-free rides to encourage eligible Wake Forest-area voters to take part in the Nov. 3 election.
Updated Oct. 16: early voting opened Thursday, Oct. 15, with no change to the hours or the free rides. Wake County’s opening-day release confirms the hours below at all 18 sites. Voters are asked to show an acceptable photo ID; anyone without one can still vote by filling in a Photo ID Exception Form.
Who can ride, and how to book
Anyone within the Wake Forest town limits and part of Raleigh’s Wakefield neighborhood can use Go Wake Forest, the town said. Riders book a pickup from their door:
- in the Go Wake Forest app, available through the town’s link at bit.ly/GoWakeForest
- by phone at 984-342-2319
The free fare applies only to trips to and from the community center during early voting. Other trips cost $2.50 to $4.50 by distance, or $1.25 to $2.25 at the reduced fare for qualified riders, the town said.
When early voting is open
Early voting at Joyner Park Community Center runs every day from Oct. 15 to 31. The hours, as the town’s release gives them:
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Weekdays | 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturdays | 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Sundays | 1 to 6 p.m. |
Wake County says lines are usually shortest in the first days of early voting, the town said. The busiest times are:
- around lunchtime on weekdays
- 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays
- the last three days of early voting
Go Wake Forest now runs on Sundays
Go Wake Forest added Sunday service on Oct. 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The town said Sunday service started with limited capacity to gauge demand. It will add capacity if demand is strong.
Sunday rides cover the community center’s 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday voting hours. The rest of the week, Go Wake Forest runs:
- Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Fridays, 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
What it means for you
- Check before you go. Look up your registration and download a sample ballot for your address at ReadyToVote.com. Wake County’s early voting site finder lists every site, with current wait times.
- Any early voting site in Wake County will take your vote, not only Joyner Park, the county’s early voting page says. Eligible people who missed the registration deadline can register and vote at the same visit. On Election Day, Nov. 3, you vote at your assigned polling place. Our voting guide has the details.
- The gym and track are closed. Joyner Park Community Center’s gym and walking track are closed through Monday, Nov. 2, while the gym holds the voting booths, the town said. RecCard holders can walk indoors at Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St., from noon to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
- Questions: the Wake County Board of Elections is at 919-404-4040.
- Getting around town the rest of the year: our getting around guide covers Go Wake Forest, the WRX express bus to Raleigh and parking.
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