Election Day in Georgia has historically been a time when local restaurants and businesses show appreciation for voters through various freebies, discounts, and special initiatives. The 2018 election cycle featured a range of offers, from complimentary drinks and snacks to grassroots efforts providing sustenance at polling locations. These promotions often required proof of voting, such as an "I Voted" sticker, or were available to all customers as a general celebration of civic participation. The following guide details the specific freebies and specials reported during the 2018 election period in Georgia, based on information from that time.
Restaurant and Bar Specials
Several Atlanta-area establishments offered direct incentives for voters in 2018. These ranged from complimentary beverages to discounted meals, often requiring customers to present an "I Voted" sticker to redeem the offer.
- Little Spirit in Inman Park provided a free "snaquiri"—a small, shot-sized daiquiri—to customers who presented an "I Voted" sticker on Election Day evening.
- Empire State South, operated by Chef Hugh Acheson, offered a complimentary snaquiri to all guests wearing a voter sticker on Election Day.
- Revelator Coffee locations gave $1 off orders to customers who wore a voter sticker on Election Day. Some locations were scheduled to close early to allow staff time to vote.
- Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream shops offered an extra scoop of ice cream with the purchase of a standard or single cone or cup on Election Day.
- Farm Burger provided free fries to customers who mentioned a specific post (referenced in the source material) on Election Day. All Atlanta-based Farm Burger locations planned to open at 12:30 p.m. to allow employees time to vote in the morning.
- Muchacho in Reynoldstown offered a complimentary cup of coffee for customers after they visited the polls.
- Xocolatl, an Atlanta-based chocolate company, offered 20 percent off online orders using the promo code "IAMAVOTER" through Election Day.
- Bocado in Westside and Bocado Burger in Alpharetta provided a complimentary draft beer with a regular burger purchase for voters throughout Election Day.
- Sweet Auburn BBQ in Poncey-Highland offered half-priced select pints and cocktails for anyone wearing an "I Voted" sticker on Election Day.
- 4 Rivers Smokehouse on Marietta Street in Westside gave a free cupcake from The Sweet Shop to diners who wore their sticker.
- Hero Doughnuts in Summerhill provided a free "Voter Doughnut" to the first 50 people who presented an "I Voted" sticker on Election Day.
- Little Tart Bake Shop offered a free 12-ounce cup of regular coffee to customers who presented an "I Voted" sticker at its Krog Street Market, Grant Park, or Summerhill locations.
Online and Retail Offers
Beyond in-person dining, some businesses extended their appreciation through online discounts and product promotions.
- King of Pops offered 20 percent off all online orders on Election Day using the promo code "IVOTED." The company also encouraged customers to comment on its Instagram status with "I voted!" for a chance to win a Patriot Pop 12-pack.
- Sippn at Home, a cocktail kit service run by Atlanta bartender Mercedes O’Brien, offered two ready-to-pour cocktails (serving four to eight people) during election week. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the voting rights organization Fair Fight Action. These were available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Grassroots Initiatives and Poll Line Support
In addition to restaurant specials, several grassroots initiatives focused on providing food, water, and snacks to voters at polling locations, particularly to support those waiting in long lines.
- The Georgia 55 Project: This initiative, which began as #ProtestPizzaATL during the 2018 midterm elections, evolved into a coalition of volunteers providing snacks, water, and other food items to people at polling locations throughout metro Atlanta. The name reflects the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the 55,000-vote margin in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race. The project partnered with various Atlanta-area restaurants. After November 3, leftover food and supplies were donated to organizations such as the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Free99Fridge, Covenant House youth shelter, Nicolas House, and local schools.
- King Williams' Initiative: Atlanta-based writer and filmmaker King Williams led a "pizza to the polls" and snack initiative in portions of DeKalb and Clayton counties, also aiming to distribute masks. Donations were collected via CashApp and Venmo, with leftover funds and supplies donated to Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Atlanta Union Mission.
- Chef Hugh Acheson and Collaborators: Chef Hugh Acheson, along with chefs Andy Gonzales, Chris Wilkins, and Rob Birdsong, planned to provide 2,000 meals to eight polling locations throughout Georgia on November 3.
- Georgia’s Own Credit Union and Insomnia Cookies: This partnership aimed to deliver 2,020 free cookies to the polls on Election Day, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Central Park Recreation Center polling precinct in Old Fourth Ward. The volunteer initiative planned to monitor local news and social media for polling locations with long lines to deliver additional cookies. People in line could tag #GeorgiasOwnVote on Twitter and Instagram.
- Moonbird Coffee: The coffee shop planned to distribute coffee and snacks at the polls on Election Day and accepted donations of snacks at its Chamblee location before November 3.
- Victory Brand Restaurants: This group delivered 1,000 sandwiches to poll locations throughout Atlanta on Election Day.
Election Day Closures
A number of restaurants and coffee shops chose to close on Election Day to allow staff time to vote or to participate in the democratic process. The following establishments were reported as closed on Election Day in 2018:
- Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
- Spiller Park Coffee (Toco Hills and Ponce City Market locations)
- Nick’s Westside
- Ben & Jerry’s (Inman Park)
- Junior’s Pizza
- Empire State South
- Salaryman
- Lazy Betty
- Redbird
- Ruby Chow’s
- Bon Ton
- The Lawrence
- WonderKid
- Victory Sandwich Shop (Inman Park and Decatur locations)
- LLoyd’s
- Little Trouble
- Victory Coffee and Calamity
- Socks Love Barbecue
- Kimball House
- Hodgepodge Coffee House
- Cooks & Soldiers
- Sugo
- Double Zero
- The Iberian Pig (Decatur and Buckhead locations)
- Bar Mercado
- Recess
- O-Ku
- Oak Steakhouse
- Colletta
Additionally, some locations had modified hours. Oz Pizza locations were scheduled to close at 4 p.m. on Election Day, and Ticonderoga Club planned to close at 5 p.m.
Legal and Logistical Considerations
The source material notes that while offering free food and drinks specifically to voters is technically illegal in some contexts, restaurants can legally offer specials to everyone, regardless of whether they have an "I Voted" sticker. Many of the promotions described were structured to comply with such regulations by being available to all customers or by framing the offer as a general celebration of Election Day.
Conclusion
The 2018 election period in Georgia saw a vibrant ecosystem of freebies, discounts, and community support initiatives aimed at engaging voters. From direct "I Voted" sticker rewards at local cafes and restaurants to large-scale grassroots efforts delivering meals to polling places, these offers reflected a community-focused approach to Election Day. Consumers interested in similar opportunities should monitor local news and business announcements ahead of future elections, as participation and offers can vary. It is also important to note that while many businesses celebrate the day, some may close or operate on reduced hours to accommodate staff.