In late 2022, Andrew Dominguez Farias — now a first-year law student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln — was working as a lobby and policy fellow for the Asian Community and Cultural Center. In his interactions with Lincoln residents, he had seen firsthand the barriers some face in their efforts to cast a vote.
“It’s difficult for some folks to be able to register to vote, get an ID or actually get to the polls on the day of the election,” he said.
In his free time, Farias began to brainstorm ways to expand access to the polls, and he found that Omaha’s Metro Transit offered fare-free rides on Election Day. A frequent StarTran passenger, he thought something similar could work in Lincoln.
“I know there are many programs out there to help folks, like groups who do carpooling,” he said. “But I thought, if the bus is already traveling in all of these different directions all over town, why not use this resource to ensure that folks can have that access to vote?”
Once Farias had compiled his research on Election Day transit across the country, he wrote and presented a proposal to the StarTran advisory board. In June 2023, a StarTran staff member used his proposal as the basis for a formal motion to implement a fare-free ride policy on election day. Continuing a pre-existing policy, BikeLNK rides were also free of charge on Nov. 5.
The StarTran advisory board and staff were key in implementing this policy, Farias said.
“It’s interesting to think that I proposed that two years ago,” he said. “It goes to show that it can take time to implement things, and it shows the importance of ensuring that you take time to implement something."
A past community organizer for Nebraska Appleseed, Farias was the recipient of the 2024 Engaged Young Professional award at the Spirit of Lincoln Neighborhood Awards. He serves on the board of directors of OutNebraska and as board president of Star City Pride Events. In his position with the Asian Community and Cultural Center, Farias supported the effort to pass legislation that established the Nebraska Commission on Asian American Affairs.
His various involvements within the Lincoln community were a major driving force in the path to law school, he said.
“It's one thing for me to go and testify or speak, but ensuring that other people's voices are at the forefront of the conversation is vital,” he said. “You don’t need a law degree to do that, but there is so much more you can do with legal knowledge, as it can equip you with the ability to uplift the voices of those who are most directly impacted by policies and decisions.”
Farias said he hopes this will be the first step of many in removing the barriers to voting some residents face, allowing them to see that their vote matters.
“There is so much to vote for, right?” he said. “But it takes time to build trust with communities and show that their votes count.”
For more information on StarTran’s Election Day ride policy, click here.
