Scheduled the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, today's school board election will almost certainly mean low voter turnout.
But in an effort to boost voting in the District 3 special election to replace former trustee Michael Shane Ellis, who resigned from the board after missing multiple meetings, the taxi cab company that services the city will offer free rides to and from the polls.
Long Beach Yellow Cab Cooperative Inc. will shuttle voters to polling places, which are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., at no cost to riders.
"This is something we do during each election, but many people don't know about the services," John Rouse, president of Long Beach Yellow Cab, said in a prepared statement. "We are happy to do our part to help get out the vote."
A spokesman for the Gardena-based cab company, which has a contract to serve Long Beach, could not be reached for comment.
Five candidates are competing to replace Ellis. The school's board's 3rd District includes much of the downtown area. School district lines are drawn differently than those for the City Council, where the 3rd District includes the Belmont Shore area.
Voters who would like the free rides to the polls can call (800) 233-0420.
