Minnesota Election Day 2018 Free Food Rides And Discounts For Voters

Introduction

On November 6, 2018, Minnesota joined other states in participating in the midterm elections, with voters heading to the polls to cast their ballots across the state. In recognition of Election Day, numerous businesses and establishments offered special deals, discounts, and freebies to encourage civic participation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the promotional offers available to Minnesota voters during the 2018 midterm elections, including food and beverage deals, transportation options to polling places, and relevant context about the election itself.

National Chain Offers Available in Minnesota

Several national restaurant and retail chains with locations in Minnesota provided special Election Day promotions in 2018. These offers were accessible to voters throughout the state, regardless of their specific congressional district or polling location.

Food and beverage establishments offered a range of incentives to encourage voter turnout:

• 7-Eleven provided a free cup of coffee on Election Day through their mobile app, allowing Minnesota voters to start their day with a complimentary beverage before heading to the polls.

• Jersey Mike's offered $2 off any regular sub through November 6, extending their Election Day promotion for an additional day after the election.

• Potbelly Sandwich Shop distributed free cookies to customers who requested one, providing a sweet treat to voters after casting their ballots.

• Shake Shack offered free fries with any purchase on Election Day. To redeem this offer, customers needed to use the code "ivoted" in the chain's mobile application.

• Baskin-Robbins provided a buy-one, get-one-for-99-cents ice cream cone promotion, with no requirement to show an "I Voted" sticker.

• Applebee's featured $2 Bud Lights as part of their November Neighborhood Drink of the Month promotion, available throughout the month rather than just on Election Day.

• Sonic Drive-In offered half-price drinks and 99-cent corn dogs daily from 2-4 p.m., providing an affordable option for voters who wanted to grab a snack or beverage during or after their visit to the polls.

• Jimboy's Tacos promoted $5.50 ground beef nachos at locations throughout California and Nevada, though this promotion was not available in Minnesota.

These national chain offers provided Minnesota voters with multiple options for food and beverage discounts throughout Election Day and the surrounding days.

Local Minnesota Restaurant and Bar Deals

In addition to national chains, numerous local Minnesota restaurants and bars participated in Election Day promotions, offering deals specific to the Twin Cities metropolitan area and other regions of the state. These local establishments demonstrated community support for civic engagement through their special offers.

Minneapolis-based establishments provided a variety of promotions:

• Spyhouse Coffee offered a free 10-ounce coffee to one person per customer at multiple locations, helping voters stay energized as they participated in the democratic process.

• Bauhaus Brew Lab gave away 600 beers at their Minneapolis taproom at 5 p.m., providing a post-voting celebration opportunity for the first 600 customers. They also offered $3 pints all night as part of their "Ballot Cleanser" party.

• The Smack Shack poured a free "Patriotic Punch" on Election Day, offering voters a festive beverage option.

• Red Rabbit Minneapolis, located in the North Loop, released a straight rye whiskey on election night and featured cocktails with the new spirit priced at $10-12.

• HopCat Minneapolis provided free "crack fries" for every guest with a purchase, with televisions tuned into election results. Additionally, for every pint of Fulton's Lonely Blonde purchased during November, a dollar was donated to the League of Women Voters.

• Birchwood Cafe, known as one of the most politically active restaurants in Minneapolis, offered free popcorn to customers while they watched the election results roll in.

St. Paul establishments also contributed to Election Day celebrations:

• The Lexington in St. Paul implemented a buy-one-get-one-free promotion on beer, wine, and cocktails at their Martini bar.

In other Minnesota locations:

• Pizza Nea in Minneapolis provided a free drink with pizza purchases.

• Gianni's Steakhouse in Wayzata offered $3 off champagne purchases.

• Nice Ride, the bike-sharing service, offered free or discounted rides to polling locations with the code BIKETOVOTE.

These local promotions demonstrated the strong community engagement in Minnesota's electoral process, with businesses across the Twin Cities and beyond offering incentives for voter participation.

Transportation Options to Polling Places

Recognizing that transportation can be a significant barrier to voting, several ride-sharing and transportation services offered discounted or free rides to polling locations on Election Day 2018. These options were particularly valuable for Minnesota voters who needed assistance getting to their polling stations.

Ride-sharing services provided substantial discounts:

• Uber offered $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day when customers used the code "VOTE2018."

• Lyft provided 50% off rides across the country, with discounts up to $5 off.

• Lime, an e-scooter service, enabled voters to access their fleet of e-scooters for free rides to and from voting locations when they entered the code LIME2VOTE18.

• Nice Ride, Minnesota's bike-sharing service, offered free or discounted rides to polling locations with the code BIKETOVOTE.

These transportation options helped ensure that Minnesota voters had multiple affordable ways to reach their polling places, addressing potential barriers to participation such as lack of personal transportation, mobility issues, or inclement weather.

Legal Considerations Regarding Election Day Freebies

While numerous businesses offered Election Day promotions in 2018, it's important to note the legal context surrounding these offers. Federal law technically prohibits offering free items in exchange for votes when federal candidates are on the ballot, which includes midterm elections like the one held in Minnesota on November 6, 2018.

According to legal experts, such as Rick Hasen, a law professor at UC Irvine who spoke with Nation's Restaurant News, "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." This legal framework has led some businesses to modify their promotions to avoid potential legal issues.

For example, a Chicago museum initially requiring voters to show an "I Voted" sticker for free admission later changed its offer to provide free admission to anyone in Illinois, removing the requirement for proof of voting. This approach aligned with the principle that while businesses can offer promotions, they cannot condition those promotions on the act of voting itself.

Most of the Minnesota businesses listed either did not require proof of voting or offered their promotions to all customers regardless of voting status. This approach allowed them to encourage civic participation while remaining within legal boundaries. The distinction between offering deals to all customers versus conditioning them on voting participation was a key consideration for businesses planning Election Day promotions.

Minnesota's Political Context for the 2018 Election

The 2018 midterm elections in Minnesota took place against a backdrop of significant political activity and competitive races. Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District election was particularly noteworthy, as it was identified as a battleground race that potentially could affect partisan control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to Ballotpedia's analysis, the race in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District was rated as leaning Democratic by multiple political analysts. The general election took place on November 6, 2018, with filing deadlines set for June 5, 2018, and primaries held on August 14, 2018. The incumbent at the time was Erik Paulsen of the Republican Party.

This race was part of the broader 2018 midterm elections where all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for election. The Democratic Party ultimately gained a net total of 40 seats, winning control of the chamber. Heading into the election, the Republican Party held 235 seats to Democrats' 193 seats, with seven vacant seats. Democrats needed to win 23 GOP-held seats to gain control of the House.

In addition to the congressional races, Minnesota Republicans established campaign offices across the state, including a new office in Baxter. This office was highlighted as being in one of the most Republican counties in the 8th Congressional District, with Republican Party of Minnesota Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan emphasizing the importance of turning out every Republican voter to support all Republican candidates on the ballot.

The high voter turnout in Minnesota, which was noted as one of the top states for voter participation, created an engaged electorate receptive to the Election Day promotions offered by businesses throughout the state.

Conclusion

The 2018 Election Day in Minnesota was marked by a variety of promotional offers designed to encourage civic participation. From national chains like 7-Eleven, Shake Shack, and Potbelly to local establishments such as Spyhouse Coffee, Bauhaus Brew Lab, and The Lexington, businesses provided free food, drinks, and discounts to voters. Transportation services like Uber, Lyft, Lime, and Nice Ride offered discounted or free rides to polling locations, addressing potential barriers to voting.

While these promotions aimed to encourage voter turnout, they operated within legal boundaries that prohibit conditioning offers on the act of voting itself. Minnesota's political context, including competitive races like the 3rd Congressional District contest, added significance to the 2018 midterm elections.

For Minnesota voters, these Election Day offers provided additional incentives to participate in the democratic process, combining civic duty with tangible benefits from businesses throughout the state. The combination of transportation assistance, food and drink promotions, and active political engagement contributed to Minnesota's status as a state with high voter turnout.

Sources

1. Election Day Deals in Minnesota
2. Twin Cities Election Day Drink Specials
3. Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District Election
4. Minnesota GOP Opens Campaign Office
5. Election Day Freebies Across the Nation
6. Election Day Food Deals Nationwide