Election Day 2018 offered California voters not only the opportunity to participate in the democratic process but also the chance to redeem various promotional deals and freebies from local and national businesses. Many of these offers were designed to encourage voter turnout, requiring customers to present an "I Voted" sticker or mention their participation to qualify. The promotions spanned a wide range of food and beverage categories, including tacos, coffee, doughnuts, beer, and ice cream. Additionally, several transportation companies and public transit agencies provided discounted or free rides to polling places to facilitate access to the polls.
Food and Beverage Promotions
Numerous restaurants and cafes across California offered free items or discounts to voters on November 6, 2018. These deals generally required the customer to show an "I Voted" sticker or, in some cases, simply state that they had voted.
Tacos and Mexican Cuisine
Several taco chains and Mexican restaurants participated in Election Day promotions: * California Tortilla: Voters could receive free chips and queso by telling the staff they had voted. This chain has locations in California. * Condado’s Tacos: Customers displaying an "I Voted" sticker were eligible for a free taco. * Rubio’s Coastal Grill: The chain offered a $5 pairing of an Original Fish Taco with any Mexican or craft beer. A la carte options included a $2 Fish Taco Especial or a $1.75 Original Fish Taco. Guests also received an "I Taco’d" sticker. * Jimboy's Tacos: This chain offered a discount in honor of Election Day and National Nacho Day. * SAJJ Mediterranean: Voters showing an "I Voted" sticker received a free dessert at locations throughout California.
Coffee and Bakeries
Coffee shops and bakeries provided caffeine boosts and sweet treats for voters: * Corner Bakery: Free coffee was available to voters with "I Voted" stickers at all Corner Bakery Cafes. * Birch Coffee: Any of the 10 New York locations offered a free drip coffee to customers with a sticker. * Klatch Coffee: Guests with a sticker could purchase a 6-ounce traditional cappuccino for $2.18 at locations in Redondo Beach, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, and San Dimas. * The Village Bakery & Cafe: Located in Atwater Village, this bakery gave away a free "I Voted" cookie to customers with a sticker. * CREAM: Customers with a sticker received 20% off their entire order at North Hollywood and Northridge locations. * Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Originally requiring a sticker, Potbelly adjusted its promotion to allow customers to "just ask" for a free cookie with any purchase on Tuesday and Wednesday at participating locations.
Doughnuts and Desserts
Sweet treat providers also joined the list of Election Day freebies: * Krispy Kreme: Voters could get a free doughnut by wearing an "I Voted" sticker. * Coolhaus: With a sticker, customers received a free dip on any purchased ice cream sandwich. * Treat House: The New York location offered buy-one-get-one Rice Krispie treats to customers showing a sticker. * Bobo’s Oat Bites: To encourage voting, Bobo's offered a free vegan, gluten-free oat bar via a coupon mailed to customers who shared on social media that they voted and tagged @eatbobos.
Burgers, Sandwiches, and Full Meals
Burger joints and sandwich shops offered deals ranging from discounts to free sides: * Capriotti’s: This sandwich shop offered $1 off all sandwiches for Election Day, with no sticker required. * Farm Burger: Across all 12 locations, Farm Burger offered free fries to anyone wearing an "I Voted" sticker or mentioning the "free fries" promotion on social media. * Twin Peaks: Customers with a sticker received a free order of chips and queso with the purchase of a beverage. * Miller's Ale House: Guests who said they voted received their first beer for $1 (a pint of domestic draft or a non-alcoholic beverage) at participating locations in several states, including California. The offer was valid until 9 p.m. in Virginia.
General Food and Drink Deals
- Chameleon Cold Brew: Voters posting an "I Voted" selfie with a sticker, tagging @ChameleonColdBrew and using #FuelTheVote, received a free 10-ounce cold brew.
- Clinton Hall: This New York beer hall offered $3 shots, $5 Gigawatt IPAs, and $10 burger specials for anyone with a sticker.
- Shake Shack: Free fries were available for voters.
- California-based chain (unspecified): Voters wearing a sticker received a free lemonade with any purchase.
- Tony's Darts Away, Mohawk Bend, Beelman's, Spring St. Bar, Bluebird Brasserie, and Miracle Mile: These bars offered one-cent beers.
Transportation Offers
To assist voters in getting to the polls, several transportation services and public transit agencies provided free or discounted rides on Election Day.
Ridesharing and Car Sharing
- Lyft: Offered 50% off or up to $5 off rides across the country using the code "VOTEMD2018." In Los Angeles, Lyft offered 50% off rides to most voting locations and provided free rides to voters in certain underserved communities.
- Uber: Provided $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day using the code "VOTE2018." Uber also offered free rides to voters in certain underserved communities.
- Lime: Offered free rides on its bikes and scooters up to 30 minutes with promo code LIME2VOTE18.
- Zipcar: Offered $20 toward a future trip with any Election Day rental.
- OrderUp: Provided $3 off orders using the code "VotePizza" or "VoteTacos."
Public Transit
- Metro (Los Angeles): Metro buses, trains, and bike shares were free on Election Day. A promo code (1162018) unlocked a free 30-minute Metro Bike Share ride.
- Long Beach Transit, Baldwin Park Transit, Pasadena Transit, Santa Clarita Transit, and Access Services: These agencies also offered free rides on Election Day.
Retail and Non-Food Promotions
While most offers were food and transportation-related, one retail brand provided an incentive to encourage voting.
- ModCloth: The brand shut down its website and FitShop stores in Austin, Texas; San Francisco; and Washington, D.C., to encourage employees and customers to vote. On the following Wednesday, customers could show an "I Voted" sticker or a social media post to receive a special limited-edition "I Voted" pin and a ModCloth tote bag.
Eligibility and Redemption Details
Most promotions were valid only on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Specific eligibility requirements varied by business: * "I Voted" Sticker: The most common requirement was presenting a physical "I Voted" sticker. This was required by businesses such as California Tortilla, Condado’s Tacos, Corner Bakery, Coolhaus, Krispy Kreme, SAJJ Mediterranean, The Village Bakery & Cafe, Twin Peaks, and Farm Burger (in part). * Mentioning Voting: Some businesses, such as California Tortilla (for chips and queso) and Potbelly (for a cookie), allowed customers to simply state they had voted to receive the promotion. * Social Media Engagement: Chameleon Cold Brew and Bobo’s Oat Bites required customers to post on social media and tag the brand to redeem their offers. * Promo Codes: Transportation discounts required specific promo codes (e.g., "VOTE2018" for Uber, "VOTEMD2018" for Lyft, "LIME2VOTE18" for Lime, and "VotePizza"/"VoteTacos" for OrderUp). * Purchase Requirements: Some offers, such as Coolhaus (free dip with purchase) and Miller's Ale House ($1 beer), required a purchase or were limited to specific items. * Geographic Restrictions: While many offers were national, some were specific to California locations (e.g., SAJJ Mediterranean, The Village Bakery & Cafe, Klatch Coffee locations). Miller's Ale House listed specific states where the offer was valid, including California. * Age Restrictions: Offers involving alcohol, such as those from Miller's Ale House and Rubio's Coastal Grill, were subject to age verification and local laws.
Conclusion
Election Day 2018 in California was marked by a wide variety of freebies and deals aimed at rewarding voters and facilitating access to the polls. Businesses across the food and beverage industry, from taco chains to coffee shops, offered free items in exchange for an "I Voted" sticker or a mention of voting. Transportation companies and public transit agencies provided significant discounts and free rides to help voters reach their polling places. While most offers were valid only on November 6, 2018, they demonstrated a trend of businesses engaging in civic participation through promotional activities. Consumers interested in similar future offers should monitor official brand announcements and local news sources as election days approach.