Election Day Freebies And Discounts In Michigan 2016 Offers For Voters

Election Day in Michigan has become synonymous with more than just civic duty. In 2016, numerous businesses across the state offered freebies and discounts to voters as a reward for participating in the democratic process. These offers ranged from complimentary doughnuts and coffee to discounted transportation rides and free childcare services. While technically illegal to offer incentives specifically in exchange for voting, businesses often framed these as general promotions available to all customers on Election Day, with the "I Voted" sticker serving as a convenient qualification method. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Election Day freebies available to Michigan voters in 2016, based on verified reports from local media outlets.

Food and Beverage Freebies

Doughnuts and Pastries

Krispy Kreme emerged as one of the most popular destinations for voters seeking a sweet reward. The doughnut chain offered a free doughnut to anyone who visited a participating location on Election Day and showed their "I Voted" sticker. Voters could choose from any flavor, including limited edition options like the Pumpkin Spice Cake and Salted Caramel Latte Doughnut. The offer was available at multiple Krispy Kreme locations across Michigan, making it accessible to voters in different regions of the state.

Nestle Toll House Cafe also joined the Election Day promotion by offering free chocolate chip cookies to customers who presented their "I Voted" stickers. This provided voters with another option for a sweet treat after casting their ballots.

Pizza and Italian Food

Several pizza chains and Italian restaurants participated in Election Day promotions. Chuck E Cheese offered a free personal pepperoni pizza with any pizza purchase. Voters could claim this offer by either telling the cashier they had voted or by using a specific coupon code (variously reported as 5235 or 5253, possibly indicating different regional offers or changing promotional terms).

Schlotzsky's Deli provided voters with a buy-one-get-one-free deal on their macaroni and cheese. Customers could take advantage of this offer by using coupon code 4207 at any of the four Schlotzsky's locations in Michigan.

BurgerFi, with locations in Ann Arbor and Northville, offered a special discount on their "Conflicted Burger" to voters who showed their "I Voted" sticker. The discount reduced the price of the burger, which contains both a meat patty and a veggie patty, to $5, making it an affordable option for voters after visiting the polls.

Sandwiches and Subs

Firehouse Subs participated in the Election Day freebies by offering a free medium drink with any purchase for customers wearing an "I Voted" sticker. This provided voters with a refreshing beverage to accompany their meal.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop complemented their sandwich offerings by giving away free cookies with any entree purchase on Election Day and the following day. This promotion extended beyond just Election Day, providing an extra incentive for voters to visit the restaurant.

HopCat, a popular restaurant and bar, served free orders of "crack fries" to all patrons on Election Day. The restaurant also provided a space for customers to gather and watch the election results as they were announced.

The Apparatus Room in the Foundation Hotel in downtown Detroit offered a more specific discount: $1 off draft Stroh's beer when customers showed their "I Voted" sticker. This targeted promotion appealed to voters looking to unwind after casting their ballots.

Coffee and Beverages

7-Eleven provided Election Day voters with a complimentary cup of coffee of any size. However, this offer was only available through the 7-Eleven mobile app, requiring voters to download the app beforehand and visit a participating location. The digital nature of this promotion reflected the growing trend of app-based offers in the retail industry.

Bob Evans restaurant offered 30 percent off the total bill for customers after 2 p.m. on Election Day. This substantial discount applied to the entire bill, making it an attractive option for voters planning to have lunch or dinner after visiting the polls.

Retail and Service Discounts

Transportation Discounts

Recognizing that transportation can be a barrier to voting, several companies offered discounted or free rides to polling places in Michigan for the 2016 election.

Uber provided new users with a $20 discount on their first ride using the promotional code "VOTE TODAY." This significant discount aimed to encourage first-time users to try the service while getting to the polls. The offer was available through the Uber app, requiring voters to have the most recent version installed to access the promotion.

Lyft offered a 50 percent discount on rides across the country, with discounts up to $5. Additionally, Lyft provided free rides to underserved communities "that face significant obstacles to transportation." To access these discounts, voters needed to enter their zip code on Lyft's partner, Buzzfeed's website.

Zipcar offered free vehicle access for several hours during the evening of Election Day. From 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., Zipcar users could drive cars for free with a reservation, providing voters with transportation options if they planned to be out late following the election.

Various transit agencies across Michigan also offered free or discounted rates to help voters get to the polls on Election Day. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson emphasized the importance of transportation access, stating: "It's important that transportation not stand in the way of any eligible Michigan citizen and their access to the ballot box."

Other Retail Offers

Beyond food and transportation, several other retailers provided Election Day specials. While the specific details of these offers were less prominently reported in the source materials, they included various discounts and promotions available to voters who showed their "I Voted" stickers or otherwise demonstrated they had participated in the electoral process.

Childcare and Community Support

The YMCA of West Michigan provided a valuable community service by offering free childcare for parents while they voted. This support acknowledged that finding childcare could be an obstacle for some parents wishing to participate in the electoral process. By providing this service, the YMCA helped ensure that more parents could exercise their right to vote without worrying about childcare arrangements.

Important Considerations and Tips

When taking advantage of Election Day freebies, voters should keep several considerations in mind:

1. Participation may vary by location: While these offers were reported across Michigan, individual franchise locations may have chosen not to participate. It was recommended that voters call ahead to confirm participation, especially for restaurant chains with multiple locations.

2. Offers are typically limited to one per customer: Most businesses limited the free items or discounts to one per customer, preventing abuse of the promotions.

3. Digital requirements: Some offers, like the 7-Eleven coffee, required downloading specific apps or using promotional codes. Voters needed to prepare in advance to access these digital offers.

4. Timing restrictions: Some offers had specific time restrictions, such as Bob Evans' 30% discount being available only after 2 p.m.

5. Purchase requirements: Many food offers required the purchase of another item, such as Chuck E Cheese's free pizza with any pizza purchase.

6. Legal considerations: While technically illegal to offer incentives specifically in exchange for voting, businesses typically framed these as general promotions available to all customers on Election Day, with the "I Voted" sticker serving as a convenient qualification method.

Conclusion

The 2016 Election Day in Michigan was marked by numerous freebies and discounts offered by businesses across the state. From Krispy Kreme's free doughnuts to transportation discounts from Uber and Lyft, these promotions provided voters with additional incentives to participate in the democratic process. While the offers varied by region and business type, they collectively demonstrated the role of private enterprise in supporting civic engagement. Voters could enjoy complimentary food and beverages, discounted transportation, and even free childcare services as rewards for exercising their right to vote. These Election Day freebies became a tradition in Michigan, adding an extra layer of celebration to the democratic process.

Sources

1. Fox17 Online - Election Day Freebies
2. Free Press - Election Day Freebies in Metro Detroit
3. WGRD - Where to Find Election Day Deals and Freebies in West Michigan
4. MLive - Election Day Freebies
5. Free Press - Free Discounted Rides on Election Day
6. State News - Lawmakers and Freebies