Election Day 2018 Freebies And Deals For Voters

The 2018 midterm elections prompted numerous businesses across the United States to offer special deals and freebies to encourage voter participation. These incentives ranged from complimentary food items and beverages to discounted transportation services and retail promotions. Many offers required voters to present their "I Voted" sticker, while others utilized specific promo codes or simply required proof of voting participation. This comprehensive overview details the available offers across different categories and regions, helping voters maximize their Election Day experience while exercising their civic duty.

Food and Beverage Offers

National restaurant chains and local establishments alike joined in the Election Day celebration by offering complimentary items and special discounts. These offers provided voters with tangible rewards for participating in the democratic process while also encouraging higher voter turnout across the country.

National Food Chain Offers

Several well-known food chains implemented Election Day specials that were available nationwide. Shake Shack participated by offering free fries with any purchase when customers showed an "I Voted" sticker or used the code "ivoted" in the Shake Shack app. Potbelly Sandwich Shop extended its offer beyond Election Day itself, providing free cookies with any entree purchase on both Election Day and the following Wednesday.

Corner Bakery Cafe offered free brewed or cold brewed coffee in any size with purchase when customers presented their "I Voted" sticker. Krispy Kreme provided a special offer for rewards members, allowing them to purchase two dozen doughnuts for $13 on both Tuesday and Wednesday, though this required an email coupon that needed to be obtained in advance.

7-Eleven participated through their mobile app, offering a free cup of coffee on Election Day to app users. Biggby Coffee, while not offering free items, provided a discounted price of $0.99 for a tall drink to customers who showed their voting sticker.

Regional Restaurant Promotions

Local restaurants in various cities created their own Election Day specials. In Boston, several establishments participated in the voting incentive program. Island Creek Oyster Bar offered a free crispy oyster slider to customers who showed their "I Voted" sticker. Row 34 provided two free oysters with the same proof of participation. Oak Long Bar extended a 10% discount on the food bill for voters, while Best Burger Bar offered free fries with any burger or sandwich purchase on Election night.

In Cleveland, Terrestrial Brewing Company joined the Election Day deals, though specific details about their offer were not fully detailed in the source material. The city also saw participation from national chains like Shake Shack and Potbelly, which offered free fries and cookies respectively.

Detroit's Election Day dining scene featured several unique offers. Hopcat served complimentary orders of their famous "crack fries" to all patrons, allowing them to stay and watch election results. The Apparatus Room, located in the Foundation Hotel downtown, offered $1 off draft Stroh's beer when customers presented their "I Voted" sticker. Additionally, Krispy Kreme had a special offer for rewards members, though this required an email coupon obtained through their program.

Nashville's restaurant scene also embraced the Election Day spirit. Barista Parlor locations offered free drip coffee to customers who presented their "I Voted" sticker, with the exception of the airport location. Another establishment at 2028 Lindell Ave provided voters with the option of either a free any-sized coffee or 50% off any food item when they showed their voting sticker. Brooklyn Street Local offered free vegan cupcakes to customers with an "I Voted" sticker.

Additional Food and Beverage Offers

Several other businesses implemented Election Day promotions in the food and beverage category. Baked by Melissa offered 10% off purchases with a code, though the specific code was not detailed in the source material. Blaze Pizza provided free delivery for orders placed through their app. Bobo's Oat Bars created a social media promotion where voters could receive a free oat bar by posting about their voting experience on social media using the hashtag #GetOatTheVote and tagging @eatbobos, then completing a form on their website.

California Tortilla offered complimentary chips and queso with any purchase when customers simply said "I Voted." Jersey Mike's extended a $2 discount on any regular sub through November 6th. Anthology, a café establishment, offered a free cup of coffee to customers who showed their voting sticker. The Henry Ford Museum in Michigan provided free admission to all visitors on Election Day without requiring proof of voting.

Transportation Deals

Transportation companies recognized that access to polling places could be a barrier to voting for many Americans. In response, numerous transportation providers offered discounted or free services to help voters reach their polling stations on Election Day.

Ride-Sharing Services

Uber and Lyft, the two largest ride-sharing companies in the United States, both implemented Election Day promotions. Uber offered $10 off a single ride to the polling locations when customers used the promotional code VOTE2018 in the app. The company emphasized that the most recent version of the Uber app was required to access this offer.

Lyft provided even more substantial assistance to voters by offering 50% off rides to most voting locations across the country. In some cases, the discount was capped at $5 off rides. Additionally, Lyft specifically offered free rides to underserved communities "that face significant obstacles to transportation." To access Lyft's discount, users needed to enter their zip code on Lyft's partner Buzzfeed's website, which helped direct the appropriate promotions based on location.

Alternative Transportation Options

Beyond traditional ride-sharing, other transportation companies implemented Election Day incentives. Lime, a bike-sharing service, offered free rides on its bikes and scooters to and from polling places for up to 30 minutes when customers used the promo code LIME2VOTE18. This provided an eco-friendly transportation option for voters in cities where Lime operated.

Motivate, which operates bike-sharing services in several cities around the country, offered a free day pass after users entered the code specific to their area. Zipcar implemented a promotion for Election Night specifically, offering $20 toward a future trip for customers who used their service on Election Day.

Public Transportation

Several public transportation systems made their services free on Election Day to ensure all voters had access to polling locations. In Los Angeles, Metro trains, buses, and bike shares were completely free on Election Day. Additionally, several other transit systems in the Los Angeles area participated, including Long Beach Transit, Baldwin Park Transit, Pasadena Transit, and Santa Clarita Transit.

In Nashville, WeGo Public Transit made all buses completely free on Election Day, November 3rd, with the simple instruction for voters to "just hop on the bus and go." These public transportation initiatives helped remove financial barriers to voting and provided environmentally friendly options for reaching polling places.

Retail Promotions and Other Offers

Beyond food and transportation, several retail stores and other businesses implemented Election Day promotions to encourage voter participation.

Retail Discounts

Allswell, a mattress company, offered 10% off all mattress purchases when customers used the code VOTE at checkout. J. Crew extended a 20% discount on orders to customers who presented their "I Voted" sticker. In Nashville, a CBD store offered 20% off the entire purchase for in-store visits when customers showed proof of voting, including their "I Voted" sticker or a social media post about voting. This offer was specifically valid until November 3rd, encouraging voters to participate and then visit the store.

Contests and Giveaways

Contiki, a travel company specializing in tours for 18-35 year olds, created a contest to encourage voter participation. The company offered one lucky voter an international excursion. To enter, participants needed to post a picture with their "I Voted" sticker or mail-in ballot on Instagram and include the hashtag #votewithnoregrets. This promotion combined civic engagement with the opportunity for an exciting travel experience.

Special Category Offers

Several other businesses implemented unique Election Day promotions. Baked by Melissa offered 10% off with a code, though the specific code was not detailed in the source material. Blaze Pizza provided free delivery for orders placed through their app. California Tortilla offered free chips and queso with any purchase when customers said "I Voted." Jersey Mike's offered $2 off any regular sub through November 6th. Anthology offered a free cup of coffee with a voting sticker.

Regional Variations in Offers

While many offers were available nationwide, several promotions were specific to particular regions or cities. These local variations provided additional incentives for voters in those areas.

Los Angeles Area

In addition to the free public transportation, Los Angeles had unique offers from local businesses. Bars owned by the 1933 Group offered $1 Moscow Mules or Old Fashioneds from 5 to 7 p.m. for anyone who showed an "I Voted" sticker. This promotion combined civic participation with happy hour specials, creating a distinctive Election Day experience in the city.

Boston Area

Boston had several restaurant-specific offers not available elsewhere. In addition to the previously mentioned Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34, Oak Long Bar, and Best Burger Bar, the city saw widespread participation in the Election Day freebies program. Boston's participation demonstrated how local businesses could create unique promotions to encourage voter turnout in their communities.

Cleveland Area

Cleveland's Election Day offers included participation from national chains like Shake Shack and Potbelly, as well as local establishments like Terrestrial Brewing Company. The city's offers were designed to provide voters with multiple options for rewards regardless of their dining preferences.

Detroit Metro Area

Detroit and the surrounding metro region had several distinctive offers. Hopcat's free "crack fries" allowed patrons to stay and watch election results. The Apparatus Room's $1 off draft Stroh's beer provided a patriotic beverage option. Krispy Kreme's special offer for rewards members required an email coupon but provided a sweet treat for voters. Additionally, Lyft offered a specific code for Michigan residents (VOTEMD2018) to access their 50% discount on rides to polling locations.

Nashville Area

Nashville's Election Day promotions included free public transportation through WeGo buses, which were completely free on Election Day. The city also had restaurant offers from Barista Parlor and 2028 Lindell Ave, as well as a CBD store offering 20% off purchases. These local incentives helped Nashville residents participate in the electoral process while enjoying local businesses.

Conclusion

The 2018 midterm elections saw an unprecedented number of businesses offering freebies and discounts to encourage voter participation. These offers spanned multiple categories including food and beverage, transportation, retail, and more. While some promotions were available nationwide, many were specific to particular regions or cities, creating a patchwork of incentives across the country.

To access these offers, voters typically needed to present their "I Voted" sticker, use specific promo codes in apps, or make qualifying purchases. The transportation incentives were particularly valuable, as they helped remove barriers to voting for many Americans who might otherwise have difficulty reaching their polling locations.

These Election Day promotions served a dual purpose: they rewarded voters for their civic participation while also potentially increasing voter turnout by providing tangible incentives. The widespread participation of businesses, from large national chains to local establishments, demonstrated a collective effort to support the democratic process.

For voters, these offers provided an opportunity to not only participate in democracy but also to enjoy complimentary items, discounts, and special deals. The variety of available options ensured that voters with different preferences and needs could find incentives that appealed to them, whether it was free food, discounted transportation, or retail savings.

Sources

1. FOX 5 DC - Freebies and Deals Being Offered on Election Day 2018
2. WROR - Free Stuff for Voting
3. Cleveland 19 - Score Election Day Deals for Registered Voters
4. Free Press - Election Day Free Metro Detroit
5. ABC 7 - Election Day Deals Freebies Voter Pizza to the Polls
6. CBS News - Election Day Deals Discounts 2018
7. Do615 - Election Day Deals Freebies for Voters in Nashville