Bay Area Election Day 2018 Transportation Deals Food Discounts And Election Night Watch Parties

The 2018 midterm elections in the Bay Area offered voters more than just the opportunity to participate in democracy. Various businesses, transportation services, and establishments provided special deals and freebies to encourage civic engagement. These offers ranged from free rides to polling locations and discounts on food and beverages to special election night watch parties at local bars and restaurants. This comprehensive guide examines the election day freebies and deals available to Bay Area residents during the 2018 midterm elections, based on verified information from local sources and participating businesses.

Transportation Freebies and Discounts

Voters in the Bay Area had multiple options for free or discounted transportation to polling locations on Election Day 2018. Several bike share programs offered promotional codes for free rides, while public transit systems and ride-sharing services provided special discounts to make voting more accessible.

Bike share programs across the country offered special election day promotions. For most Motivate bike share programs, riders could use the code BIKETOVOTE to receive a free day pass. In Chicago, Divvy riders could use the code VOTE18 for free access. Portland's BIKETOWN, which operates in a vote-by-mail system, offered 30 minutes of free ride time with the code BIKE2VOTE.

Several public transit systems also provided free rides on Election Day. Los Angeles' Metro system offered complimentary fares, as did Columbia, South Carolina's bus service the COMET, the Metro in Houston, and the Greensboro Transit Authority in North Carolina, which offered free fares system-wide.

Ride-sharing services joined in the election day promotions as well. Uber offered $10 off a single ride to the polls when users entered the promotional code VOTE2018 in their app. Lyft provided 50 percent off rides to polling locations through a special promotion on their website. In certain areas like Tampa, local transit authorities such as HART and PSTA offered free round trips to polling places upon presentation of valid voter information cards.

Food and Beverage Deals

Numerous restaurants, cafes, and food establishments in the Bay Area offered special deals to voters on Election Day 2018. These promotions ranged from free food items with an "I Voted" sticker to special discounts on meals and beverages.

Baked by Melissa rewarded voters with a free cupcake when they visited a store with their "I Voted" sticker. The bakery also offered 10 percent off online orders at www.bakedbymelissa.com on Tuesday and Wednesday with the promo code IVOTED2018.

Bobo's provided a coupon for a free vegan, gluten-free oat bar to customers who shared that they had voted on social media. To receive a coupon, customers needed to tag @eatbobos on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and use the hashtag #GetOatTheVote, while supplies lasted.

California Tortilla offered a free order of chips and queso with any purchase when customers said "I voted." This offer was valid in-store only. Capriotti's Sandwich Shop provided $1 off any sub when customers showed their voting sticker.

Chameleon Cold-Brew rewarded voters with a voucher for a free 10-ounce drink when they posted a selfie with their "I Voted" sticker on Instagram. Miller's Ale House offered participating customers their first beer for just $1 if they showed their voting sticker, with the option to choose a non-alcoholic beverage instead. This offer could only be used once per guest.

In the Bay Area specifically, several establishments created unique promotions. Seven Stills on Nob Hill offered $5 beers, $5 glasses of pinot grigio and cabernet sauvignon, and special snacks all day to customers who wore their "I Voted" sticker or brought a ballot stub. Wursthall, a German-inspired beer hall, offered a special deal where customers could get a Kolsch or soft drink for just $0.18 when they told their server the secret password "Wurst Vote."

Easy Creole provided a sweet discount with the "I Voted" sticker, allowing customers to get any meal for $10 on election day or November 7. The restaurant noted that it didn't have TV screens, making it a quieter option for those who wanted to follow results without the typical election night atmosphere.

Election Night Watch Parties and Events

Beyond day-of deals, many Bay Area establishments hosted election night watch parties and special events for residents interested in following the midterm election results. These gatherings ranged from casual viewing parties to official events hosted by political organizations.

Finn Town hosted a "Blast from the Past" TV Dinner Night where diners could watch the results while enjoying Salisbury steak. The event started at 6 p.m., offering a nostalgic dining experience while following the election returns.

El Rio catered specifically to those interested in San Francisco elections, featuring the SF League of Pissed Off Voters who would be monitoring local returns and updating flip charts throughout the night. The event started at 8 p.m. and was particularly notable for not having TV screens, focusing instead on the live updates from the League.

SoMa gay club Oasis opened its doors early at 6:30 p.m., allowing friends to gather and watch the national results. At 8:30 p.m., the venue transformed into the official party for the San Francisco Democratic Party, creating an official election night gathering location.

Seven Stills on Nob Hill maintained its Election Day promotions into the evening, continuing to offer $5 beers, $5 glasses of wine, and special snacks to customers with their "I Voted" stickers or ballot stubs.

Spats Berkeley hosted a watch party starting at 6 p.m., organized by a coalition of local political organizations including Indivisible Berkeley, Sister District Project CA-13, Together We Will Albany-Berkeley, and Flip the 14. This collaborative event brought together various political groups to watch the results together.

Legal Considerations

While many businesses offered election day deals and freebies, it's important to note the legal complexities surrounding these promotions. Federal law technically prohibits offering free items in exchange for votes when federal candidates are on the ballot.

According to Rick Hasen, a law professor at UC Irvine, "It is illegal in elections when federal candidates are on the ballot to offer free stuff (including free food or drink) to people upon proof of voting." Despite this legal restriction, many businesses continued to offer these promotions, often framing them as general Election Day specials rather than direct exchanges for votes.

Some businesses adapted their promotions to comply with these legal restrictions. For example, a Chicago museum initially requiring voters to show voting stickers for free admission later changed its offer to provide free admission to anyone in Illinois, avoiding the appearance of rewarding voting specifically.

Tips for Voters Seeking Election Day Deals

For voters looking to take advantage of election day freebies and deals, several tips emerged from the 2018 promotions:

1. Always carry your "I Voted" sticker, as it was required for most food and beverage discounts.
2. Check with specific locations before heading out, as participation could vary by franchise or location.
3. Download ride-sharing apps in advance and enter promotional codes before requesting rides.
4. Follow businesses on social media for potential last-minute deals or additional promotions.
5. Plan to visit multiple establishments to maximize the number of deals available.
6. Remember that some offers extended beyond Election Day into the following day or weekend.

Regional Variations in the Bay Area

Election day deals and freebies varied across different Bay Area cities and neighborhoods. While San Francisco had numerous options including watch parties at venues like El Rio and Oasis, other Bay Area locations offered different types of promotions.

Some neighborhoods traditionally known for election night celebrations, such as San Francisco's Castro District, had scaled back their usual festivities in 2018. According to reports, officials in these areas encouraged people to stay home to avoid potential civil unrest or to prevent the spread of large gatherings, though this information appears to reference the 2020 election rather than 2018.

In Oakland and Berkeley, establishments like Spats Berkeley hosted watch parties organized by local political groups. Berkeley's political scene, known for its progressive activism, was particularly active in organizing election viewing events.

The South Bay and Peninsula had fewer specifically documented promotions but likely had similar offerings from national chains and local establishments that weren't detailed in the available sources.

Social Media Promotions

Several businesses leveraged social media to promote their election day deals and to distribute coupons. Bobo's required customers to tag their social media accounts and use a specific hashtag to receive their free oat bar coupon.

Chameleon Cold-Brew encouraged customers to post selfies with their "I Voted" stickers on Instagram to receive a voucher for a free drink. This type of promotion not only rewarded voters but also provided businesses with social media exposure and user-generated content.

Some businesses created unique hashtags or promotional codes that voters could share online, extending the reach of their election day marketing campaigns while simultaneously encouraging civic participation.

The Intersection of Commerce and Democracy

The prevalence of election day deals and freebies reflects a unique intersection between commerce and democratic participation in the Bay Area. As noted in one source, elections in the region have "always occupied a spot somewhere between politics and a sporting event," characterized by large gatherings at local establishments.

Businesses used these promotions as both marketing opportunities and community engagement strategies. By offering deals around Election Day, they reinforced their connection to civic values while attracting customers who might not otherwise have visited.

For voters, these offers provided additional incentives to participate in the democratic process, combining civic duty with tangible benefits. The variety of available deals allowed voters to create their own Election Day experiences, whether through transportation savings, food discounts, or election night celebrations.

Conclusion

The 2018 midterm elections in the Bay Area offered voters numerous opportunities to combine civic engagement with special deals and promotions. From free transportation to polling locations and discounts on food and beverages to election night watch parties, businesses throughout the region created a variety of ways to encourage voter participation.

While some of these offers navigated legal restrictions around providing incentives for voting, they collectively demonstrated the unique relationship between commerce and democracy in the Bay Area. For many residents, these promotions added an extra element of excitement to Election Day, turning a civic duty into a day of exploration and celebration across the region.

As the sources indicate, the Bay Area's approach to elections has always blended political participation with social gatherings, and the 2018 election day freebies were a reflection of this distinctive culture. Whether through a free bike ride, discounted meal, or election night party with friends, these offers provided additional ways for residents to engage with the democratic process while enjoying the vibrant social scene that defines the region.

Sources

1. Election Day Deals: Free Rides to the Polls and Businesses Offering Specials Tuesday

2. Election Day Deals in the Bay Area: Discounted Rides, Food and Beer

3. Election Day in SF: Parties & Freebies

4. Watch Midterm Election Results at Bay Area Bars and Restaurants