Election Day 2016 Freebies And Deals In Los Angeles Your Guide To Voting Perks

Los Angeles voters heading to the polls on Election Day 2016 had more than just civic pride to look forward to. Numerous businesses across the city offered special deals and freebies to those who exercised their right to vote. From free donuts and coffee to discounted transportation and special restaurant promotions, voters were rewarded for participating in the democratic process. This comprehensive guide details all the Election Day offers available in Los Angeles, helping voters maximize their benefits while fulfilling their civic duty.

Food and Beverage Freebies

The most popular Election Day freebies centered around food and beverage establishments, with many businesses offering treats to voters who showed their "I Voted" stickers or provided proof of voting.

Donuts and Coffee

Krispy Kreme led the pack with one of the most widely recognized Election Day promotions. Participating Krispy Kreme locations across Los Angeles offered a free doughnut of choice to customers who showed their "I Voted" sticker. The promotion was available at numerous locations, including the Brentwood store at 2530 Sand Creek Rd. This popular offer became a tradition for many voters looking to satisfy their sweet tooth after casting their ballots.

For coffee lovers, Pie Hole L.A. provided a different kind of incentive. The popular Los Angeles chain offered a free coffee of choice with any purchase when customers brought in their voting stub. This promotion was available at two locations: 714 Traction Ave. in Los Angeles and 6314 Hollywood Blvd. The limited-time offer encouraged voters to stay caffeinated while navigating their busy Election Day schedules.

7-Eleven also joined the Election Day celebration by offering a free cup of coffee at participating shops. This deal was accessible through the 7-Eleven mobile app, providing convenient digital redemption for tech-savvy voters.

Restaurants and Bars

Several Los Angeles restaurants and bars extended special Election Day promotions, creating an atmosphere of celebration and community around the democratic process.

In Santa Monica, The Independence embraced the political season with an "#ImWithBeer" celebration. The bar offered $5 draft craft beer pints all day long, along with specialty cocktails including the tequila-fueled "Bad Hombre," the vodka-spiked "Nasty Woman," and "Straight Outta Options" (a variation on a Long Island Iced Tea). The evening featured an "Uncle Sam Drawing" at 9 p.m., where diners had the chance to win gift cards, adding an element of excitement to the political atmosphere.

Culver City's The Wallace provided comfort food and drinks to voters with $4 select craft beers and $8 specialty cocktails like the bourbon-fueled "Gold Rush." The restaurant also offered an $8 bucket of excellent fried chicken, complete with complimentary hot sauce, making it a popular stop for those seeking satisfying post-voting meals.

A West Hollywood cocktail bar celebrated voters' rights with half-priced food and drinks. The promotion included tacos and flatbreads, as well as cocktails priced at $7 each, featuring the rye-spiked "Honey Badger." This offer coincided with the bar's new menu offerings, creating a timely promotion for Election Day visitors.

Red O Restaurants took a patriotic approach to Election Day deals, offering $3 street tacos (including short rib, chicken, and carnitas options), $6 corn and goat tamales, and $10 ahi tuna tartare. The restaurant also priced margaritas and select wines at just $7, making it an attractive destination for voters seeking both food and drink specials.

In Los Feliz, the Yucca St location of a local favorite offered 50% off the entire order when customers flashed their "I Voted" sticker. The promotion highlighted the loaded Zeus fries topped with meat, feta, and tzatziki as a must-try item for Election Day diners.

Other Food Offers

Lemonade provided a refreshing option for voters, offering a free 12-ounce lemonade at any location when customers showed their "I Voted" sticker. This healthy alternative to sugary treats appealed to voters looking for a lighter option.

Jimboy's Tacos combined Election Day with National Nacho Day, offering special discounts to celebrate both occasions. The promotion provided voters with an opportunity to enjoy Mexican cuisine while participating in the democratic process.

Transportation Deals

Recognizing that getting to the polls can sometimes be a challenge, several transportation companies offered special Election Day deals to make voting more accessible and affordable.

Ride-sharing Services

Major ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft both provided Election Day promotions to help voters reach polling locations. Uber offered $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day using the most affordable option available in each city (Express POOL, POOL, or UberX in that order). Users needed the most recent version of the Uber app and could access the discount by entering promotional code VOTE2018.

Lyft provided two different options for voters across the country. The service offered 50% off rides to most voting locations, with discounts up to $5. Additionally, Lyft provided completely free rides to underserved communities that face significant obstacles to transportation. To access the Lyft discount, users were directed to enter their zip code on BuzzFeed's website, which was Lyft's partner for this promotion.

Public Transportation

Several public transportation agencies in the Los Angeles area eliminated fares on Election Day to encourage voter participation. Metro buses, trains, and bike shares were all free to ride on Election Day. This applied to multiple transit systems, including Long Beach Transit, Baldwin Park Transit, Pasadena Transit, Santa Clarita Transit, and Access Services.

For those using Metro Bike Share, a special promotion code (1162018) unlocked a free 30-minute ride, making it easy for voters to access polling locations throughout the city. This initiative aimed to reduce barriers to voting by providing completely free transportation options.

Bike and Scooter Services

Beyond traditional public transportation, several bike and scooter-sharing services offered Election Day promotions. Lime provided free access to its fleet of shared bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters for up to 30 minutes when users entered the promo code LIME2VOTE18. The service was available in more than 100 cities across the nation, making it a convenient option for voters in urban areas.

Motivate, a bike share operator, offered free rentals in nine urban bike share systems across the country. This included major systems such as Citi Bike in New York City and Jersey City, Divvy in Chicago, Bluebikes in Boston, Capital Bikeshare in Washington D.C., Nice Ride Minnesota in Minneapolis, Ford GoBike in the San Francisco Bay Area, BIKETOWN in Portland, and CoGo in Columbus, Ohio. The code for a free day pass for most Motivate programs was BIKETOVOTE.

Zipcar offered a different approach to transportation incentives, providing $20 toward a future trip with any Election Day rental. Additionally, select Zipcars were free from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time on Election Day, eliminating the hourly reservation charge during this period. The company noted that these free cars would be available while supplies lasted and likely would sell out quickly.

Retail and Service Discounts

Beyond food and transportation, several retailers and service providers offered Election Day discounts to voters.

Amoeba Records provided music lovers with an incentive to vote by offering $3 off any item regularly priced $5 or more when customers showed their "I Voted" sticker or voting stub. The discount couldn't be combined with other offers and wasn't valid online, but it applied to in-store purchases at any Amoeba location.

The Pasadena YMCA took a family-friendly approach to Election Day by offering free childcare services on November 8. The facility provided free childcare from 8 a.m. to noon and again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. This service helped parents who needed time to vote while ensuring their children were cared for. The promotion noted that other YMCAs might also be offering free childcare, encouraging voters to contact their local Y for more information.

Family-Friendly Offers

For families with young children, the Pasadena YMCA's free childcare service stood out as particularly valuable. By providing supervised childcare during specific hours on Election Day, the YMCA removed a significant barrier for parents who might otherwise have struggled to find time to vote.

The service was available in two blocks of time: morning hours from 8 a.m. to noon, and afternoon hours from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. This scheduling covered key voting periods while accommodating typical family routines. The YMCA encouraged parents to check with their local branches for similar offers, potentially expanding the availability of this valuable service throughout the Los Angeles area.

Conclusion

The 2016 Election Day in Los Angeles was marked by an impressive array of freebies and deals designed to encourage voter participation. From food and beverage establishments offering treats and discounts to transportation companies providing free or reduced-cost rides, businesses demonstrated their support for the democratic process in creative and practical ways.

Voters benefited from Krispy Kreme's free donuts, Pie Hole's complimentary coffee, and The Independence's $5 beers, among many other offers. Transportation incentives from Uber, Lyft, Metro, and Lime made it easier for Angelenos to reach their polling locations, while retailers like Amoeba Records and service providers like the Pasadena YMCA added value to the voting experience.

These promotions not only rewarded voters for their civic participation but also helped remove barriers to voting by providing essential services like transportation and childcare. By making the voting process more convenient and enjoyable, these Election Day freebies contributed to higher voter engagement and demonstrated the important role that businesses can play in supporting civic life.

For future elections, voters can look forward to similar promotions and should consider checking with their favorite local businesses about Election Day deals. The 2016 Los Angeles experience shows how creative incentives can enhance the democratic process and make voting a more rewarding experience for all participants.

Sources

1. CBS Los Angeles - Free Election Day Doughnut, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Pizza and More
2. [The Hollywood Reporter - Free Stuff 'I Voted' Sticker Election Day](https://www