On November 8, 2016, numerous businesses across Florida offered free products, discounts, and special deals to individuals who participated in the general election. These promotions served as incentives for voters, rewarding them for exercising their constitutional right with complimentary food, beverages, and services. The availability of these offers was generally contingent upon presenting an "I Voted" sticker or, in the case of digital rewards, utilizing a specific mobile application. The types of rewards ranged from free donuts and coffee to discounted meals and complimentary gym access, with specific details varying by participating location and brand.
Restaurant and Food Retailer Offers
Several national and regional food chains provided specific incentives for voters in Florida on Election Day. These offers generally required proof of voting, such as an "I Voted" sticker, or the use of a specific mobile app or promo code.
Coffee and Donuts
- 7-Eleven: Customers could obtain a free any-size coffee at participating locations. To redeem this offer, users were required to download the 7-Eleven mobile app and scan the 7Rewards barcode at checkout. This promotion was limited to one free cup per customer. This offer was confirmed by multiple sources, including the official 7-Eleven app requirement.
- Krispy Kreme: Participating locations offered a free donut to customers who showed their "I Voted" sticker on November 8.
- Duffy’s Sports Grill: This Florida-based chain provided a free order of red velvet mini donuts with any meal purchase on Election Day. Customers needed to show their "I Voted" sticker or mention that they had voted.
Burgers and Fast Food
- BurgerFi: Voters could purchase a "Conflicted Burger" for $5 (regularly priced at $8 or $9) by showing an "I Voted" sticker at participating locations. There was a limit of one burger per customer.
- Shake Shack: Although primarily mentioned in a 2018 context regarding mid-term elections, Shake Shack has historically offered free fries with any purchase upon showing an "I Voted" sticker or using the code "ivoted" in their app.
- White Castle: This chain offered a free gallon of iced tea with the purchase of a Crave Case. This required presenting a coupon in the restaurant or using the promo code "USA" for online orders.
Casual Dining and Restaurants
- Bob Evans: Customers received 30 percent off their entire check (dine-in or carryout) after 2:00 p.m. on November 8. A coupon was required for this offer.
- Bahama Breeze: Shoppers could receive $10 off a purchase of $30 or more by using a specific coupon valid until November 8.
- Church’s Chicken: This chain offered a seven-piece mixed chicken, a large side, and four biscuits for $8.99 with the use of a coupon.
- East Coast Wings & Grill: Voters could receive five free HBBQ wings on Election Day with the purchase of an adult entrée.
- Great American Cookies: Customers showing an "I Voted" sticker received one free regular cookie at participating stores.
- California Tortilla: This chain offered free chips and queso with any purchase on November 8. Customers were required to say a specific "password" to redeem the offer. The passwords included: "I vote for queso," "Make queso great again," or "I'm with Queso."
- Firehouse Subs: A free medium drink was provided to customers wearing an "I Voted" sticker.
- &pizza: While not explicitly detailed in the Florida-specific chunks, &pizza offered free drinks to anyone who cast their vote.
Bars and Breweries
- World of Beer: This chain offered $1 off the first beer for voters at participating locations.
- Playalinda Brewing Co. - Hardware Store: Located in Titusville, this brewery offered $1 off the first Playalinda-brewed beer to anyone wearing an "I Voted" sticker in the evening.
- Bagatelle Miami Beach: This location offered one free hibiscus champagne cocktail after voting, requiring an "I Voted" sticker or bracelet.
- Bodega: Located in South Beach, Bodega offered a free shot of tequila to voters.
Non-Food Retail and Service Offers
Beyond food and beverage, other businesses in Florida provided services and products to voters on Election Day.
- Zipcar: On Election Day, Zipcar offered free access to over 7,000 vehicles to help members "zip to the polls." The cars were free from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time on Election Day. Members could reserve cars starting November 3.
- Gold's Gym: Members or individuals with a valid "I Voted" sticker received free access to their local Gold's Gym on Election Day.
- Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts: This Miami-Dade County venue offered free coffee to early voters.
Geographic Context and Voter Participation
The 2016 election saw significant voter engagement in Florida. According to data from the U.S. Elections Project and FiveThirtyEight, early voting numbers in Florida for the 2016 general election surpassed the total voter turnout for the entire state in the year 2000. Specifically, 6,424,595 people had already voted early in Florida by the morning of November 8, 2016, compared to 5,861,223 total voters in 2000. This historical context highlights the high level of participation during the election cycle.
General Terms and Conditions
While specific requirements varied by business, several common themes emerged regarding the redemption of Election Day freebies:
- Proof of Voting: Most food-related offers required the customer to present a physical "I Voted" sticker. Some businesses, such as Duffy's Sports Grill, allowed customers to simply mention that they had voted.
- Mobile Applications: Certain offers, such as the 7-Eleven coffee, were exclusively available through the brand's mobile app. Users needed to download the app and scan a barcode or enter a promo code.
- Geographic Restrictions: While many offers were national, some were specific to Florida or South Florida. For example, Duffy's Sports Grill is a Florida chain, and the Adrienne Arsht Center is located in Miami-Dade County.
- Purchase Requirements: Some deals required a purchase (e.g., East Coast Wings & Grill, White Castle, California Tortilla), while others were completely free (e.g., Krispy Kreme, Great American Cookies).
- Time Restrictions: Several offers were valid only for a specific window of time, such as Bob Evans' discount being available only after 2:00 p.m. or Zipcar's free rides being available from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Conclusion
The 2016 Election Day in Florida was marked by a wide array of freebies and discounts offered by businesses to reward voters. These promotions included free coffee and donuts, discounted meals, free drinks, and even free gym access. The availability of these offers was generally tied to proof of voting, primarily through "I Voted" stickers or mobile app engagement. The high level of voter participation in Florida during this election cycle was noted in historical data, further emphasizing the significance of the day.