Atlanta Election Day Freebies And Deals 2018 Guide For Voters

Atlanta voters in 2018 had numerous opportunities to receive free food, drinks, and transportation services on Election Day, as local businesses and national chains offered special promotions to encourage civic participation. These incentives ranged from complimentary coffee and cocktails to free rides to polling locations, with many establishments creatively structuring their offers to comply with election regulations while still rewarding voters. This guide details the various freebies and deals available to Atlanta residents during the 2018 Election Day, organized by category for easy reference.

Restaurant and Food Freebies in Atlanta

Atlanta's dining establishments demonstrated particular enthusiasm for Election Day promotions, with numerous restaurants and food businesses offering complimentary items and special deals. While some businesses technically restricted offers to those with "I Voted" stickers, many extended these promotions to all customers on Election Day to comply with election laws that prohibit rewarding voters specifically.

Several Atlanta coffee shops participated in the Election Day freebies tradition: - East Pole Coffee provided free oat milk drinks throughout Election Day until 5 p.m. - Little Tart Bake Shop offered free 12-ounce cups of regular coffee at three locations (Krog Street Market, Grant Park, and Summerhill) to those presenting an "I Voted" sticker. - Revelator Coffee shops offered $1 off orders to customers wearing voter stickers.

Dessert and sweet treats were also popular promotional items: - Hero Doughnuts gave away free "Voter Doughnuts" to the first 50 people who presented an "I Voted" sticker at their Summerhill location. - King of Pops offered 20 percent off all online orders using the promo code "IVOTED" on Election Day, and encouraged customers to comment "I voted!" on their Instagram status for a chance to win a Patriot Pop 12-pack.

Several Atlanta restaurants featured special cocktail and drink promotions: - Little Spirit in Inman Park provided free snaquiris (bite-sized daiquiris) on Election Day evening for those with an "I Voted" sticker. - Storico Fresco in Buckhead offered half-priced cocktails on Election Day. - Whiskey Bird in Morningside extended their Happy Hour specials, offering $4 cocktails and bites until closing on November 3. - Chef Hugh Acheson's Empire State South in Midtown offered complimentary snaquiris to guests wearing voter stickers.

For those planning to eat at home, Sippn at Home, an Atlanta cocktail kit service run by bartender Mercedes O'Brien, offered two ready-to-pour cocktails serving four to eight people during election week, with a portion of proceeds donated to voting rights organization Fair Fight Action. The service operated on a first-come, first-served basis with pick-up instructions provided upon payment.

Some restaurants provided special meal deals: - Whiskey Bird offered a steak and fajita takeout special on Election Night that included spinach dip and wonton chips, Caesar salad, queso mac and cheese, and chocolate chip cookies for $48. - Krab Queenz, though typically closed Tuesday through Thursday, provided an Election Day discount on Friday, November 6, offering 50 percent off daiquiris or small and large shrimp plates with proof of voting.

Transportation Deals and Free Rides

Getting to the polls was made more accessible in 2018 through several transportation promotions available in Atlanta and surrounding areas. These incentives aimed to remove barriers to voting by providing free or discounted transportation options on Election Day.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) offered free rides to voters carrying a valid voter registration card between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters could access DART bus, light rail, Paratransit, or Trinity Railway Express commuter rail services between CentrePort/DFW Airport station and Union Station at no cost.

For those preferring alternative transportation methods, several companies provided special promotions: - Lime offered free rides for up to 30 minutes on its bikes, e-bikes, and scooters with the promotional code LIME2VOTE18. - Uber provided $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day on the cheapest available option (Express POOL, POOL or UberX, in that order) when using the code VOTE2018. - Lyft offered 50 percent off rides to most voting locations nationwide.

Some businesses demonstrated additional commitment to civic participation by adjusting their operations to accommodate employees' voting rights. Alamo Drafthouse canceled its first round of shows on Election Day to allow all employees time to vote, ensuring staff could participate in the democratic process without scheduling conflicts.

National Chain Promotions Available in Atlanta

Several national restaurant and service chains with locations in Atlanta offered Election Day promotions in 2018. These deals were available at participating locations throughout the city and provided voters with various free items and discounts.

Fast-food and casual dining chains featured prominently in Election Day promotions: - Shake Shack offered free fries with any purchase when customers showed an "I Voted" sticker or used the code "ivoted" in the app. - Potbelly provided a free cookie with an entree purchase on Tuesday and Wednesday. - Corner Bakery Cafe offered free brewed or cold brewed coffee of any size with purchase by showing an "I Voted" sticker. - Capriotti's Sandwich Shop offered $1 off any sub when showing a voting sticker. - Jersey Mike's provided $2 off any regular sub through November 6.

Transportation and mobility services also participated in Election Day incentives: - Zipcar offered $20 toward a future trip with an Election Day rental. - Divvy in Chicago provided free rides through an "Explorer Pass" with the code VOTE18, though this service was not directly available in Atlanta.

These national promotions complemented Atlanta-specific offerings, giving voters numerous opportunities to receive discounts and free items while exercising their civic duty.

Grassroots Initiatives Providing Food at Polls

Beyond commercial promotions, several grassroots initiatives operated in Atlanta during the 2018 Election Day to provide food and support to voters and polling locations. These community-led efforts demonstrated local commitment to facilitating the voting process and addressing food insecurity.

The Georgia 55 Project represented one of the most substantial grassroots efforts. Originally started as #ProtestPizzaATL during the 2018 midterm elections, the initiative had evolved into a full coalition with hundreds of volunteers providing snacks, water, and other food items to people at polling locations throughout metro Atlanta. The project's name derived from two significant references: the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the 55,000-vote difference between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race.

After Election Day, the Georgia 55 Project planned to donate leftover food and supplies to several community organizations, including Atlanta community fridge project Free99Fridge, Covenant House youth shelter, Nicolas House (unhoused support), and local schools for children in need of free lunch.

Atlanta-based writer, podcaster, and documentary filmmaker King Williams led another initiative, distributing pizza and snacks to portions of DeKalb and Clayton counties on Election Day. Williams also aimed to distribute masks as part of his effort. Those wishing to support could donate funds via CashApp ($IAmKingWilliams) or Venmo (IAmKingWilliams). Any remaining funds after November 3 were donated to Hosea Feed the Hungry program, part of Hosea Helps, with leftover food and supplies going to Atlanta Union Mission.

Chef Hugh Acheson, along with several other Atlanta chefs including Andy Gonzales of Steinbeck's Ale House and the Companion, Chris Wilkins of Root Baking Co., and Rob Birdsong of Glide Pizza, planned to provide 2,000 meals to eight polling locations throughout Georgia on November 3. This initiative demonstrated professional culinary community commitment to supporting voters during the election process.

How to Access These Deals

For Atlanta residents looking to take advantage of Election Day freebies in 2018, several methods and requirements applied depending on the specific promotion:

1. Voter Sticker Requirement: Many food and drink offers required presentation of an "I Voted" sticker, which voters received after casting their ballots at polling stations. Some establishments extended these offers to all customers, while others restricted them to those with stickers.

2. Promotional Codes: Several digital and transportation promotions required specific codes:

   • King of Pops used "IVOTED" for 20% off online orders
   • Lime used "LIME2VOTE18" for free 30-minute rides
   • Uber used "VOTE2018" for $10 off rides
   • Lyft offered 50% off rides to voting locations
   • Divvy used "VOTE18" for free rides in Chicago

3. Time Restrictions: Many offers had specific time limitations:

   • East Pole Coffee's free oat milk drinks were available until 5 p.m.
   • Whiskey Bird extended their Happy Hour until closing on November 3
   • Krab Queenz's discount was available on Friday, November 6
   • Zipcar's $20 off applied to rentals between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

4. Transportation Requirements: For free rides via public transit or services like DART, voters needed to present a valid voter registration card during the specified hours (6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for DART).

5. Donation-Based Offers: Some promotions, like Sippn at Home's cocktail kits, operated on a donation basis with proceeds supporting voting rights organizations.

Conclusion

Atlanta's 2018 Election Day featured an impressive array of freebies and deals designed to encourage voter participation while providing practical benefits to those casting ballots. From complimentary coffee and cocktails to free transportation and meals at polling locations, businesses and community organizations demonstrated creativity in supporting the democratic process. Restaurant and food establishments offered everything from free doughnuts and coffee to discounted cocktails and special meals, while transportation services provided free or discounted rides to polling locations. Grassroots initiatives like the Georgia 55 Project and chef-led meal distributions further enhanced the voter experience while addressing community needs. These promotions not only incentivized voting but also strengthened community connections during a significant electoral period in Georgia's history.

Sources

1. Atlanta Eater - Restaurants, Bars, Coffee Shops Closed Election Day Food Drink Deals 2020 Atlanta
2. Dallas CultureMap - DART Gives Voters Free Rides
3. FOX 5 Atlanta - Freebies and Deals Being Offered on Election Day 2018
4. Atlanta Eater - Election Day Food Drink Specials Atlanta Georgia
5. CBS News - Election Day Deals Get Freebies Discounts If You Vote