Election Day Freebies In Florida Rewards For Voting On November 8 2016

On November 8, 2016, Florida residents heading to the polls to cast their ballots discovered numerous businesses throughout the state offering special deals and freebies as a reward for participating in the democratic process. From restaurants and coffee shops to gyms and transportation services, many establishments extended discounts and complimentary items to voters who showed their "I Voted" stickers or ballot stubs. This comprehensive guide outlines the Election Day offers available to Florida voters, organized by category for easy reference.

Food and Drink Establishments

Fast Food Chains

Several fast food chains participated in Election Day promotions, offering free items or discounts to voters. These offers provided an affordable way for voters to enjoy a meal while celebrating their civic participation.

• BurgerFi: Participating locations offered the "Conflicted Burger" for $5 (normally $8-$9) when customers presented their "I Voted" sticker. This promotion was available at all Florida locations, including those in South Florida.

• Carl's Jr.: The fast-food chain encouraged voter participation by offering a free Western Bacon Cheeseburger, Famous Star, or Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich to customers who joined the new rewards program and spent a minimum of $1.

• Chuck E. Cheese: Families voting together could enjoy a special treat at this establishment. By using coupon code #5253 or informing the cashier at the register that they had voted, customers received a free personal pepperoni pizza with any pizza purchase.

• Church's Chicken: This chain offered a special Election Day deal: a seven-piece mixed chicken meal with a large side and four biscuits for $8.99 with a coupon, available until November 8.

• Tijuana Flats: The Florida-based restaurant chain rewarded voters with a free side of guacamole, salsa, or queso when they presented their "I Voted" sticker.

Sit-Down Restaurants

Numerous sit-down restaurants joined the Election Day promotion effort, offering discounts and complimentary items to encourage civic participation.

• Bahama Breeze: This Caribbean-inspired restaurant provided customers with $10 off their $30 purchase through a coupon valid until November 8.

• Bob Evans: The family restaurant chain offered 30 percent off the entire check on Election Day after 2 p.m. only. Customers needed to present a coupon to receive this discount on dine-in or carryout orders.

• Duffy's Sports Grill: With locations throughout South Florida, this restaurant chain offered a free order of red velvet mini donuts with any meal purchase. Customers needed to show their "I Voted" sticker or mention that they had voted to their server.

• East Coast Wings & Grill: Voters received five free HBBQ wings with the purchase of an adult entrée at this casual dining establishment.

• Firehouse Subs: Participating locations provided a free medium drink to customers wearing an "I Voted" sticker on November 8.

• Smashburger: This burger chain offered a buy-one-entrée-get-one-free deal through a coupon valid until November 10.

• Village Inn: The family restaurant chain provided a free slice of pie with the purchase of an adult entree through a coupon valid until November 9.

• California Tortilla: This Mexican food chain offered free chips and queso with any purchase on November 8. To receive the complimentary appetizer, customers needed to tell the cashier one of three "passwords": "I'm with Queso," "Make Queso Great Again," or "I Vote for Queso!" This promotion was available at Northeast and Florida locations.

Coffee Shops and Bakeries

Several coffee shops and bakeries joined the Election Day promotion effort, offering complimentary items to voters.

• 7-Eleven: Customers could get a free cup of coffee of any size at participating locations by downloading the 7-Eleven mobile app and scanning the 7Rewards barcode at checkout. This offer was limited to one free cup per customer.

• Krispy Kreme: The popular doughnut chain offered one free doughnut of choice at participating locations to customers who showed their "I Voted" sticker.

• Great American Cookies: The national cookie shop invited customers who showed their "I Voted" sticker to choose one free regular cookie at participating stores. No purchase was necessary for this offer.

• Honeybee Doughnuts: Every voter with an "I Voted" sticker could enjoy a free "Election Glazed," Buttermilk Glazed, or Pumpkin Spice doughnut at this Florida-based doughnut shop.

• Eleni's New York: The bakery offered 10 percent off all election-themed bakery sweets with promo code ELECTION2016 until November 8.

• Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts: In Miami-Dade County, this cultural institution provided free coffee to early voters.

Bars and Breweries

Several establishments in the nightlife sector also offered Election Day promotions to encourage voter participation.

• World of Beer: This tavern chain invited voters to "come together over a pint of common good." By mentioning the offer to their server on November 8, customers received their first beer for $1.

• Bagatelle Miami Beach: This upscale restaurant and lounge offered one free hibiscus champagne cocktail after voting. Customers needed to show their "I Voted" sticker or bracelet.

• Bodega: Located in South Beach, this establishment offered a free shot of tequila to customers who voted.

• E11even: This Miami venue provided a complimentary sponsored open bar from 8 to 9 p.m. for customers who showed their "I Voted" sticker.

Pizza Chains

Several pizza chains participated in Election Day promotions, offering special deals to voters.

• Marco's Pizza: This pizza joint offered vouchers for free pizza on November 8 for those who voted, though specific details about the redemption process were not provided.

• California Pizza Kitchen: Customers who signed up for CPK Rewards received $5 and a free small plate. The rewards program allowed customers to accumulate one point for every $1 spent, with a $5 reward redeemable after 75 points.

Other Food Establishments

• The Cheesecake Factory: This popular restaurant chain offered a special deal that customers could take advantage of until November 10, though specific details about the promotion were not provided in the source material.

Other Businesses and Services

Beyond food establishments, several other businesses and services offered Election Day promotions to encourage civic participation.

• Gold's Gym: The fitness chain offered a free visit to nationwide locations for customers who presented a voter registration card or "I Voted" sticker.

• YMCA: Many YMCAs offered free childcare services for parents heading to the polls. While most locations provided this service for free, some required a nominal fee or donation. To determine if their local YMCA was participating, customers were advised to call directly or visit the organization's website.

Transportation Services

Several transportation companies offered special services to facilitate voting on Election Day.

• Lyft: In cooperation with VotoLatino.org, Lyft offered free rides to the polls through its app. The company also provided a 45 percent discount on one ride between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day.

• Uber: Uber provided an in-app feature that helped users find their polling place and request a ride to the location. First-time customers could use the promo code VOTETODAY for $20 off their first ride.

• Zipcar: As part of the #DRIVEtheVOTE initiative, more than 7,000 Zipcar vehicles were free for members to use from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Election Day.

Health and Wellness Offers

While limited in the source material, one health-related promotion was available:

• Puritan's Pride: This health supplement company offered 15 percent off any one Puritan's Pride brand item with promo code ELECT16 until November 9.

Tips for Taking Advantage of Election Day Freebies

To ensure voters could take full advantage of these promotions, several tips emerged from the source material:

1. Always bring your "I Voted" sticker or ballot stub when heading out after voting.
2. For app-based promotions like those at 7-Eleven, download the necessary apps and set up accounts in advance.
3. Some offers required specific coupon codes or passwords, so it was helpful to research these beforehand.
4. Participation varied by location, so confirming local participation before visiting was recommended.
5. Some offers had time restrictions or were only available after certain hours, such as Bob Evans' 30% discount after 2 p.m.

Conclusion

Election Day 2016 in Florida offered numerous opportunities for voters to receive rewards for their civic participation. From complimentary doughnuts and coffee at popular chains to discounts at sit-down restaurants and free childcare services, businesses throughout the state demonstrated support for the democratic process. While many offers required presentation of an "I Voted" sticker, others were available through specific apps, coupon codes, or simply by mentioning that one had voted. These promotions not only provided tangible benefits to voters but also encouraged civic engagement by making the act of voting more rewarding. For Florida residents, November 8, 2016, presented a unique opportunity to exercise both their rights as citizens and their purchasing power, with numerous businesses showing appreciation for their participation in the democratic process.

Sources

1. Election Day Freebies: 17 Tasty Treats for Voters
2. Free Things On FL Election Day: Restaurant Steals & Deals 2022
3. Your Guide to Election Day Deals and Freebies in South Florida
4. Election Day Freebies: 7-Eleven, Krispy Kreme, YMCA & More
5. Election Day Freebies, Deals