Election Day 2018 in Minnesota featured a variety of promotional offers and incentives designed to encourage voter participation and provide convenience to citizens heading to the polls. These initiatives ranged from free transportation services to complimentary food and beverages at local and national establishments. The availability of such offers reflected a broader trend of businesses engaging with civic events, although it also highlighted legal considerations regarding incentives for voting.
National Transportation and Retail Offers
Several national ride-sharing and retail chains implemented promotions specifically for Election Day. These offers aimed to reduce barriers to voting, such as transportation costs, and to reward civic engagement.
Lyft provided a significant discount on rides to and from polling locations. Participants could enter the code "LIME2VOTE18" to unlock a free ride using the Lime fleet of e-scooters. Lyft offered a 50 percent discount or up to $5 off rides across the country. Uber also offered a discount, providing $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day by entering the code "VOTE2018."
In the retail sector, 7-Eleven offered a free cup of coffee on Election Day through its mobile app. Jersey Mike's provided $2 off any regular sub through November 6. Potbelly Sandwich Shop offered a free cookie to customers who asked for one. Shake Shack gave customers free fries with any purchase on Election Day; this offer was redeemable with the code "ivoted" in the chain's app.
Minnesota-Specific Local Offers
Minnesota businesses, particularly in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas, offered numerous local deals and freebies for voters. These ranged from free coffee and beer to discounted food items.
Spyhouse Coffee offered a free 10-ounce coffee, limited to one per person, at its multiple locations. The Lexington in St. Paul provided a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deal on beer, wine, and cocktails at the Martini bar. Pizza Nea in Minneapolis offered a free drink with the purchase of a pizza. Nice Ride, a bike-sharing service, offered free or discounted rides to the polls with the code BIKETOVOTE.
Bauhaus Brew Labs in Minneapolis hosted a "Ballot Cleanser" party, offering $3 pints all night and giving away one free beer to the first 600 customers at 5 p.m. Gianni's Steakhouse in Wayzata offered $3 off champagne. Smack Shack provided a free "Patriotic Punch" on Election Day. Red Rabbit Minneapolis and Tattersall released a new straight rye whiskey on election night, with cocktails featuring the new spirit priced between $10 and $12. HopCat Minneapolis offered free "crack fries" with purchase and donated $1 for every pint of Fulton's Lonely Blonde purchased throughout November to the League of Women Voters. Birchwood Cafe provided free popcorn and a place to watch election results.
Legal Considerations and Context
The distribution of freebies in exchange for voting is subject to legal restrictions. Federal law prohibits offering free items, including food or drink, in proof of voting when federal candidates are on the ballot. This legal context influenced how some promotions were structured. For example, the Field Museum in Chicago originally required a voting sticker for free admission but changed its offer to free admission for anyone in Illinois to comply with regulations.
In Minnesota, the 2018 election included competitive races, such as the 3rd Congressional District, which was identified as a battleground race. The Republican Party established a campaign office in Baxter to mobilize voters in a dependably red county. The election resulted in the Democratic Party gaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Conclusion
The 2018 Election Day in Minnesota saw a mix of national and local promotional offers aimed at supporting voter turnout. These included free and discounted transportation, food, and beverages. While many businesses sought to reward civic participation, the offers also operated within the framework of election laws that restrict direct incentives for voting. The variety of local deals, particularly in the Twin Cities area, underscored the community's engagement with the electoral process.