2018 Election Day Deals Free Rides Food Offers And Discounts For Voters

Election Day 2018 provided voters with opportunities to not only exercise their civic duty but also to take advantage of numerous freebies and discounts offered by various businesses and organizations. These incentives ranged from free rides to polling places to complimentary food items and retail discounts. The offers were designed to encourage voter participation, particularly important during midterm elections when turnout tends to be lower than in presidential election years.

Transportation Deals and Free Rides

Multiple transportation options were available to voters on Election Day 2018, with many services offering free or discounted rides to polling places. These incentives aimed to remove barriers to voting by making transportation more accessible.

Bike share programs across the country participated in the Election Day free ride initiative. Most Motivate bike programs offered a free day pass with the code BIKETOVOTE. In Chicago, Divvy riders could use code VOTE18, while Portland's BIKETOWN participants could access 30 minutes of free ride time with the code BIKE2VOTE. These codes provided voters with an alternative transportation option to reach their polling places.

Several public transit systems also offered free rides on Election Day. Los Angeles' Metro system, Columbia, South Carolina's bus service the COMET, the Metro in Houston, and the Greensboro Transit Authority in North Carolina all provided system-wide free fares. In Lansing, Michigan, CATA offered free rides system-wide, though a valid voter registration card was required to be presented upon boarding. The EATRAN service in Eaton County, Michigan provided transportation to and from all Eaton County Election Polls.

Ride-sharing services joined the effort with discount codes. Uber offered $10 off a single ride to the polls and provided $20 off for first-time riders using the code "VOTE TODAY." The company also helped users find their polling places through its app. Lyft offered 50% off rides across the country, with a maximum discount of $5 off, using the code "VOTEMD2018." Additionally, Lyft provided free rides to underserved communities that faced significant transportation obstacles.

Other transportation services included Lime, which offered the code LIME2VOTE18 to unlock their fleet of e-scooters for free rides to and from voting locations. Spec-Tran, Redi-Ride, and Rural Service required rides to be scheduled by 5 p.m. on November 5, as same-day rides would not be available.

Food and Beverage Freebies

Numerous food and beverage establishments offered Election Day deals in 2018, with many requiring voters to show their "I Voted" stickers to receive the benefits. These offers ranged from complimentary food items to discounts on purchases.

Several restaurant chains provided free items to voters. Baked by Melissa offered a free cupcake to customers who visited a store with their "I Voted" sticker. The chain also provided 10 percent off online orders on Tuesday and Wednesday with the promo code IVOTED2018. California Tortilla gave away a free order of chips and queso with any purchase when customers said "I voted" at the register. Capriotti's Sandwich Shop offered $1 off any sub when showing a voting sticker. Firehouse Subs provided a free medium-sized drink to customers who presented their "I Voted" sticker. Potbelly Sandwich Shop gave away free cookies upon request.

Krispy Kreme participated by offering a free doughnut to customers who showed their "I Voted" sticker at participating stores. Shake Shack provided free fries with any purchase, either by showing an "I Voted" sticker or by redeeming with the code "ivoted" in the chain's app.

Some food deals were available without requiring proof of voting. Noodles and Company allowed customers to vote for their favorite mac and cheese on the company's website and receive a "Buy One, Get One" coupon in return. Chameleon Cold-Brew offered a voucher for a free 10-ounce drink when customers posted a selfie with their "I Voted" sticker on Instagram.

Additional restaurant offers included Bob Evans, which provided 30% off entire dine-in or carryout orders with a coupon. Chuck E. Cheese's gave out free personal pepperoni pizzas with the purchase of any other pizza, either by mentioning voting or using coupon code #5253. Schlotzsky's offered a "Buy One, Get One Free" coupon for mac and cheese with code 4207.

Retail food and beverage companies also got in on the promotions. Bobo's provided coupons for free vegan, gluten-free oat bars to customers who shared that they voted on social media. To receive a coupon, customers needed to tag @eatbobos on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and use #GetOatTheVote, while supplies lasted. 7-Eleven offered a free cup of coffee on Election Day through its mobile app.

Other Discounts and Services

Beyond transportation and food, various other businesses and organizations provided Election Day discounts and services to encourage voter participation.

Drizzly, a booze-delivery app, offered $10 off for orders from new customers who used the code "Election 10" in Maryland. OrderUp provided $3 off orders by using the codes "VotePizza" or "VoteTacos." Jersey Mike's offered $2 off any regular sub through November 6.

The YMCA provided a valuable service for parents looking to cast their ballots by offering free childcare at certain locations. This service allowed parents to vote without worrying about finding care for their children.

In East Lansing, Michigan, HopCat served free Crack Fries all day with a purchase, though this was limited to one per customer and was dine-in only.

Legal and Contextual Considerations

The practice of offering incentives for voting exists in a legal gray area. According to legal experts, it is technically illegal in elections when federal candidates are on the ballot to offer free items, including food or drink, to people upon proof of voting. Rick Hasen, a law professor at UC Irvine, noted this restriction to Nation's Restaurant News.

This legal concern led some businesses to modify their offers. For example, a Chicago museum that initially planned to require voters to show their voting sticker for free admission changed its offer to provide free admission to anyone in Illinois, rather than only to voters.

The motivation behind these Election Day deals was often to increase voter turnout, which typically is lower during midterm elections. Only about four in ten eligible Americans vote in midterm elections, according to Fortune. Brands offered freebies and deals to those who showed their "I Voted" stickers, though many businesses navigated the legal concerns by offering the perks to anyone who asked, rather than exclusively to voters.

Conclusion

Election Day 2018 offered numerous incentives for voters to participate in the democratic process. From free transportation options to polling places to complimentary food items and retail discounts, these deals provided additional motivation for citizens to vote. While many offers required voters to show their "I Voted" stickers, some businesses made their deals available to everyone to avoid potential legal issues.

For those interested in taking advantage of these offers, it was recommended to verify with local locations before heading out, as participation could vary by franchise or regional availability. Despite the legal considerations surrounding these incentives, they served as a reminder of the importance of civic participation and provided small rewards for exercising one's right to vote.

Sources

1. Election Day 2018 deals, free rides, freebies, free food, discounts and offers
2. Election Day deals: Free rides to the polls and businesses offering specials Tuesday
3. Election Day deals as you go out to vote
4. BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Free cookies, fries and alcohol -- plus other deals and discounts on Election Day
5. Companies offer free and discounted services to encourage voters on Election Day
6. Election Day free food deals 2018