The provided source material documents several promotional offers and logistical information related to election participation in San Diego and Tucson, primarily centered around the 2018 mid-term elections and specific election procedures. The data highlights free transit services, dining discounts, entertainment offers, and civic engagement incentives designed to encourage voter turnout. However, the material does not contain specific information regarding free samples, product trials, or brand freebies in the traditional consumer goods categories (such as beauty, baby care, or household items). Instead, the focus is on event-based promotions and election logistics.
Election Day Transit and Service Offers
In an effort to remove barriers to voting, public transit services in Tucson offered free rides on election day. According to the source, Sun Tran, including Sun Van and the Streetcar, provided complimentary service. Pat Richter, Sun Tran’s Marketing Manager, stated, “We wanted to make sure anyone that wanted to vote could. We didn’t want there to be any barriers to voting.” This initiative aimed to facilitate access to polling locations for all residents.
Dining and Entertainment Promotions
Several businesses offered incentives for voters to utilize their services or products by presenting an "I Voted" sticker.
Tucson Roadrunners (Hockey) The Tucson Roadrunners hockey club offered a "two for one" ticket deal for a game against the San Diego Gulls. To qualify, individuals were required to bring an "I Voted" sticker to the ticket office. Bob Hoffman, President of the Tucson Roadrunners, noted, “We felt it’s everybody’s duty to get out and vote so this is rewarding that regardless of candidate or party.”
Breakout Dance Studio The Breakout Dance Studio in Tucson offered a free dance lesson to anyone who produced an "I Voted" sticker. Lauren Renteria, the dance studio’s manager, explained the motivation behind the offer: “We really wanted to encourage young people, and people of all ages, to get out and vote. We want them to know their voice matters and one person can make a difference.”
Dave & Buster’s Promotions While not explicitly linked to election day in the source, Dave & Buster’s is cited as offering various promotional deals. These include: * 25% More Gameplay: A promotional offer expiring on May 6, 2025, providing 25% more gameplay with a Power Card purchase of $25 or more and a total party minimum spend of $1,000. * All You Can Eat Wings: Available every Monday and Thursday, priced at $22.99 per person. * Veteran’s Day Offer: A promotion valid on November 11, 2025, offering a free entrée up to $20 and a $10 Power Card for veterans and active military personnel upon presentation of valid ID.
Election Logistics and Voting Procedures
Source [4] provides specific instructions for mail ballot voters in San Diego for the November 8 Presidential General Election. The Registrar of Voters advised voters to use ballpoint pens with dark ink (avoiding red) and to avoid felt-tip markers to prevent ink bleed-through, which could affect contests on the reverse side of the ballot. Voters who accidentally use a marker that bleeds through were instructed to call the Registrar’s office to request a new ballot.
Legal and Political Context
Source [2] details a federal criminal case involving illegal campaign contributions in San Diego. Three men—Ravneet Singh, Ernesto Encinas, and Marco Polo Cortes—were charged with conspiring to funnel over $500,000 from a Mexican businessman into mayoral campaigns (referencing the 2012 and 2013 elections). The scheme involved shell companies and straw donors. The source notes that the complaint did not identify specific candidates but appeared to refer to Bob Filner and Bonnie Dumanis.
Conclusion
The available source material confirms that election day incentives in San Diego and Tucson during the 2018 mid-term elections primarily involved free transit, discounted entertainment tickets, and free lessons, rather than consumer product samples. The data also highlights specific voting instructions regarding ballot marking tools and provides context on a historical campaign finance scandal in the region.