Election Day 2018 Freebies And Deals Across The United States

The 2018 midterm elections saw numerous companies across the United States offering special deals and freebies to encourage voter participation. These offers ranged from food and beverages to transportation services and retail discounts, providing incentives for citizens to fulfill their civic duty. While many of these promotions were available nationwide, some had specific location restrictions. This article examines the various Election Day 2018 freebies and deals, as well as related information about voting trends and election outcomes.

Food and Beverage Freebies

Numerous food and beverage establishments offered special promotions to voters on Election Day 2018. These offers included free items, discounts, and special deals designed to reward civic participation.

Fast food chains were particularly active in offering Election Day promotions. Chick-fil-A provided customers who could prove they voted with chicken sandwiches priced at just $2.70. This significant discount made the popular menu item more accessible to voters who had waited in line at polling places. Similarly, Burger chain Johnny Rockets offered free milkshakes with any in-store purchase to diners who mentioned the "free shake" offer.

Several ice cream and dessert establishments also participated in Election Day promotions. Baskin-Robbins offered a buy-one-get-one deal for 99 cents on ice cream cones, encouraging voters to bring friends or enjoy two treats themselves. Jeni's Ice Creams added an extra scoop of ice cream for free to any order, promoting friendly political discourse through its offer. Baked By Melissa provided free cupcakes to anyone wearing an "I Voted" sticker, while also offering a 10 percent discount online with the code IVOTED2018 for those not near a physical location.

Coffee shops joined the Election Day promotions as well. Toby's Estate Coffee, with five locations in New York City, offered $1 small drip coffees to customers wearing "I Voted" stickers. This made it more affordable for voters to start their day or get a caffeine boost after casting their ballots.

Pizza Hut distinguished itself by offering free delivery through its app and DoorDash on November 6. The chain encouraged voters to report their polling place online, after which free pizza would be sent to "feed the democracy." This unique approach combined convenience with a patriotic message about supporting the democratic process.

Transportation and Travel Deals

Several transportation and travel-related companies offered Election Day deals to help voters reach polling places and make their voting experience more convenient.

Ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft both provided promotions to help voters get to the polls. Uber offered $10 off rides to the nearest local polling place, addressing potential transportation barriers that might prevent some citizens from voting. Lyft also had a promotion available on November 6, though the specific details were not fully detailed in the source material.

Bike-sharing services also participated in Election Day promotions. Citi Bike offered a day pass for free on November 6 when users entered the promo code "BIKETOVOTE" in the app. This provided an alternative transportation option for voters in urban areas with bike-sharing infrastructure.

Cultural institutions also joined in with special admissions. The Field Museum in Chicago provided basic tickets completely free of charge for Illinois residents on Election Day, normally a $24 value. The Rubin Museum of Art in New York offered free admission the day after Election Day, on Wednesday, November 7, extending the voting celebration into the following day.

Retail and Service Discounts

Beyond food and transportation, several retail and service businesses offered Election Day promotions to encourage voter participation.

Cristophe Schatteman Salons, known for celebrity clients including former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Brad Pitt, and Kate Hudson, offered 50 percent off hairstyle services at their Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Beverly Hills, and Orange County locations on November 6. These services normally range in the $500s, making this a substantial discount for voters who had recently cast their ballots.

Mobile service providers also participated in Election Day promotions. Credo Mobile offered free outbound calls during the hours of open polling in customers' states, allowing voters to contact friends and family while waiting in line at polling places. This service enabled voters to stay connected and perhaps encourage others to participate in the democratic process.

Voting Process Information

While the focus of this article is on Election Day freebies, it's important to understand the voting context in which these promotions occurred. The 2018 midterms occurred during a period of significant voter engagement, with many states implementing measures to make voting more accessible.

In California, a new state mandate prompted by pandemic safety efforts led to the mailing of 21 million ballots to voters. By October 14, 2020, more than 1 million Californians had already returned their mail-in ballots, shattering previous records. Nearly half of these mail-in ballots came from Los Angeles County, where over 435,000 voters had already responded. These early numbers suggested particularly high voter engagement amid a contentious presidential election and pandemic-related disruptions.

The source data does not provide specific information about Orange County, CA's voting patterns or freebies for the 2018 election. While several promotions were available in California, including the Cristophe Schatteman Salons discount in Orange County, specific details about regional voting incentives in Orange County for the 2018 election are not available in the provided source material.

Notable Election Results

The 2018 elections saw notable victories for candidates with military backgrounds across several states. In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a congresswoman and former Navy helicopter pilot, defeated her Republican opponent in the state's gubernatorial race by approximately 13 percentage points. These results were widely viewed as significant in the context of veteran political representation.

Other veteran candidates also saw victories across the country: - In Orange County, New York, Republican Steve Neuhaus, a Navy Reserve commander with multiple deployments, returned as county executive. - In Virginia's House District 10, Democrat Dan Helmer, a U.S. Army veteran, won his race.

These victories demonstrated a trend of voters rewarding candidates with military service backgrounds at various levels of government.

Conclusion

The 2018 Election Day freebies and deals represented a diverse range of promotions designed to encourage voter participation across the United States. From food and beverage discounts to transportation assistance and retail offers, these incentives provided additional motivation for citizens to exercise their right to vote. While many of these promotions were available nationwide, some had specific location restrictions, with several offers available in California.

The promotions also reflected a broader trend of businesses engaging with civic participation, often through creative marketing that balanced commercial interests with democratic values. Companies like Krispy Kreme, which later in 2024 would offer free doughnuts to voters without requiring proof of ballot casting, demonstrated how Election Day promotions could evolve over time.

While the source data does not provide comprehensive information about all Election Day freebies specifically in Orange County, CA for 2018, it does establish that several promotions were available in the area, including the Cristophe Schatteman Salons discount. The high voter turnout in California during the 2020 election cycle suggests that such promotions may have contributed to increased civic engagement, though specific causal relationships cannot be determined from the available data.

As elections continue to evolve, particularly with increased mail-in voting options, it remains to be seen how businesses will adapt their Election Day promotions to encourage participation while navigating legal considerations around offering incentives for voting.

Sources

1. Elite Daily - These Election Day 2018 Deals Are Just Another Reason For You To Get Out And Vote
2. Forbes - These Companies Are Giving Out Election Day Freebies, Krispy Kreme, IKEA And More
3. Los Angeles Times - 1 Million Mail-In Ballots Cast In California 2020 Election
4. Military.com - Veterans Score Big And Send Message At Ballot Box
5. Ballotpedia - Robert Nelson (California)