RICHMOND, Va. -- With Election Day now less than a month away and the deadline to register to vote in Virginia this Tuesday, Oct. 13, one Richmond man is using his resources to make sure everyone gets to the polls on time.
“I want to make sure that folk can get their ballot counted," Richard Walker said. "That's our end goal."
Walker is the founder and CEO of Bridging the Gap in Virginia. He has been running the non-profit since 2009 to help those who have served time behind bars get their voting rights restored.
“Basically, assisting and supporting formally and currently incarcerated convicted felons," Walker said.
🗳️RELATED: Your voter's guide to the 2020 General Election
He is now using his platform to help voters in the community exercise their right to vote.
“I’ve got about a half dozen volunteers and we’re going through all the of the communities within Richmond and Henrico to let folk know that we’re available to transport them to the polls or to the register office," Walker said.
So far walker said the group has transported about 15 people over the last two weeks.
"Mainly it’s been elderly folk, older folk and I'm OK with that," Walker said. "They are the ones that have probably been voting all of their lives and would be very disappointed if they couldn’t get out to either bring their absentee ballot or vote in person.”
Community members have also been chipping in to help.
“I even gotten one volunteer that’s offered us a 15-passenger van that we can commute and go around and pick people up," Walker said.
According to the Virginia Department of Elections, more than 5.8 million Virginians have registered to vote.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 is the deadline to register and Walker is encouraging everyone to do so in what he believes is one of the most important elections.
"We have to guarantee folk that they get that voice, that they want to be heard for their benefit that they can help with their lives," Walker said.
To learn more about Walker's free service, contact him at rwalker@bridgingthegapinvirginia.org or call 804-248-6756.
If you still need to register to vote -- or want to check your registration status or confirm your polling location -- click here for info from the Virginia Department of Elections.
