Kansas City Businesses Provide Incentives For Voters During 2018 Election

Introduction

During the 2018 midterm elections, Kansas City, Missouri businesses and organizations implemented various incentive programs to encourage voter participation. These offers ranged from complimentary food items at community events to discounted meals at local restaurants. The initiatives were designed to provide voters with tangible benefits for exercising their civic duty, with most offers requiring proof of voting through an "I Voted" sticker. This article examines the specific Election Day deals available in Kansas City during the 2018 election cycle and the context surrounding these voter incentive programs.

Community-Led Voter Incentives

The Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church's Commission on Social Action organized one of the most notable voter incentive programs during the 2018 election. The organization hosted a Rock the Vote! event at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center, located at 3700 Blue Parkway in Kansas City. The event began at 11 a.m. on Election Day and offered free tacos and beverages to anyone who presented their "I Voted" sticker.

In addition to providing food, the event incorporated educational components, including movies focused on the history of voting. This multifaceted approach aimed to both reward and inform voters, combining immediate gratification with deeper civic engagement. The initiative demonstrated how community organizations could leverage resources to encourage participation in the democratic process while simultaneously promoting historical awareness about voting rights and accessibility.

Teresa Perry, a Kansas City resident living near Prospect Avenue, reported on these community efforts, highlighting the church's role in facilitating voter engagement through tangible incentives. Her observations underscored the significance of local organizations in supporting democratic participation at the grassroots level.

Restaurant-Specific Voter Deals

Several Kansas City restaurants implemented their own voter incentive programs during the 2018 election. These offers varied by establishment but shared the common requirement of voters presenting their "I Voted" sticker to receive the designated benefits:

• Mac's Fish & More: This establishment offered a "buy one pound of fish, get one pound free" promotion. The deal effectively provided voters with 50% off their fish purchases, representing a substantial incentive for those planning to purchase seafood on Election Day.

• Smaax: Beginning at 11 a.m. on Election Day, Smaax offered $5 chicken strip baskets. This discounted pricing made the popular menu item more accessible to voters, potentially encouraging both voting and dining.

• Old Folks Lounge: This venue provided a budget-friendly option with two chili dogs available for $1. The extremely low price point aimed to remove financial barriers that might otherwise prevent some individuals from participating in both voting and dining activities.

These restaurant deals reflected a variety of promotional strategies, from percentage discounts to fixed-price offerings and buy-one-get-one-free arrangements. The diversity of approaches demonstrated how different business models could be adapted to encourage voter participation while potentially increasing foot traffic and sales on Election Day.

Election Context and Voter Turnout Expectations

The 2018 midterm elections took place against a backdrop of significant political activity and anticipation. Election officials in Missouri anticipated above-average voter turnout for a midterm election, according to reports from the time. This heightened interest was attributed to several factors, including the competitive nature of various races and the perceived importance of the election outcomes.

Teresa Perry emphasized the significance of the 2018 election during a community forum, stating that "Voting is serious, but this one is very serious. This election is going to impact a lot of things, and if people do not get out to vote…it can hurt some people. It's already hurting us." This perspective reflected a broader sentiment among many voters who viewed the midterm elections as particularly consequential for various policy areas and community interests.

The heightened awareness and anticipated turnout created an opportune environment for businesses and organizations to implement voter incentive programs. By offering tangible benefits, these initiatives aligned with the increased civic engagement and provided additional motivation for voter participation.

Broader 2018 Election Landscape

While the focus here is on Kansas City-specific voter incentives, the 2018 midterm elections represented a significant moment in American politics nationally. The elections were widely characterized as a "blue wave" election, with Democrats making substantial gains in various races.

In gubernatorial elections, Democrats defended all seats they had controlled prior to the election and successfully won seven additional governorships. These victories included open seats in Michigan, Nevada, Kansas, New Mexico, and Maine, as well as defeats of Republican incumbents in Illinois and Wisconsin. Democrats also picked up an independent-held seat in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The congressional elections saw Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives, while Republicans maintained control of the Senate. Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi attributed these gains to voter desire to "restore the Constitution's checks and balances to the Trump administration." In contrast, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell described Election Day as "a very good day" for his party.

The special elections held throughout 2018 also contributed to the shifting political landscape. Democrats won a net gain of one seat through special elections, with victories in Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district and Michigan's 13th congressional district, among others.

These national developments created an environment where local initiatives like those in Kansas City could be seen as contributing to broader electoral trends and outcomes. The combination of national significance and local importance may have enhanced the effectiveness of voter incentive programs in encouraging participation.

Impact of Voter Incentive Programs

The implementation of voter incentive programs in Kansas City during the 2018 elections raises questions about the effectiveness and appropriateness of such strategies. While the primary goal was to increase voter turnout, the programs also had potential secondary effects on local businesses and community organizations.

For participating restaurants, the offers likely served as a form of community engagement while potentially driving customer traffic on what might otherwise be a typical Tuesday. The "I Voted" sticker requirement helped ensure that benefits were directed specifically at voters, aligning the promotional value with civic participation.

Community organizations like Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church leveraged these programs to advance broader educational objectives. By combining food incentives with voting history education, the church addressed immediate needs while fostering longer-term civic awareness. This dual approach represented a holistic strategy for promoting democratic participation.

The presence of such diverse incentive programs also reflected a recognition that different demographic groups might respond to different types of rewards. While some voters might be motivated by free food, others might prioritize the educational components or the sense of community engagement offered by different programs.

Limitations of Available Information

While the documented voter incentive programs in Kansas City during the 2018 elections provide valuable insights into local efforts to encourage civic participation, the available information has certain limitations. The specific details of these programs are primarily based on reports from Teresa Perry, a Kansas City resident, rather than official announcements from the participating businesses or organizations.

The documentation does not provide comprehensive data on the effectiveness of these incentive programs in terms of actual voter turnout or the demographic characteristics of those who participated. Similarly, there is no information about whether similar programs were implemented in other Kansas City locations or if these were isolated initiatives.

Additionally, the source material does not address potential criticisms or concerns about voter incentive programs, such as questions about whether they might constitute improper inducements to vote or whether they could disadvantage voters without access to the participating establishments. These considerations might have been part of community discussions but are not reflected in the available information.

Conclusion

The Election Day incentive programs implemented in Kansas City during the 2018 midterm elections represented creative approaches to encouraging voter participation. From community events offering free food to restaurants providing discounted meals, these initiatives recognized the importance of removing potential barriers to voting while providing tangible benefits for civic engagement. The variety of programs demonstrated how different types of organizations could contribute to democratic participation through diverse strategies.

While the available information provides a snapshot of these voter incentive efforts, a more comprehensive understanding would benefit from additional details about program implementation, effectiveness, and community reception. Nevertheless, the documented examples illustrate how local businesses and organizations can play a role in supporting and celebrating democratic participation through practical incentives and community engagement.

Sources

1. Kansas City Restaurants Offering Election Day Deals for Voters
2. 2018 United States Elections
3. Remarks by President Trump at Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention
4. NAACP Voting Information
5. Election Day 2025 Exit Polls