The 2018 midterm elections in the United States prompted a wide array of businesses to offer free products, discounts, and special promotions to individuals who participated in the voting process. These incentives were designed to encourage civic engagement and provide tangible rewards for voters heading to the polls on Election Day. The offers primarily focused on two categories: transportation assistance to and from polling places, and food and beverage rewards. Access to these promotions often required proof of voting, typically in the form of an "I Voted" sticker, or the use of specific promo codes. While some deals were national in scope, others were limited to local regions or participating locations. The availability of these promotions varied, and consumers were generally required to take specific actions to redeem them, such as presenting a sticker or entering a code. Many food offers were conditional on a purchase, allowing businesses to drive sales while providing value-added incentives to voters. It is important to note that these offers were framed as encouragement for the act of voting itself, rather than as a reward for voting for a particular candidate or party, to avoid illegal practices.
Transportation and Travel Incentives
A significant number of companies focused on removing transportation barriers to voting. These offers ranged from discounted rideshares to free public transit and bike rentals.
Rideshare and Car Rental Services
Uber and Lyft were the most prominent national providers of Election Day transportation incentives. Both companies offered specific promo codes to facilitate rides to polling locations. Uber provided $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day. To redeem this offer, users needed to enter the promo code VOTE2018 in the Uber app. This offer was widely reported across multiple sources, including those focused on the Los Angeles, Boston, Cleveland, and Detroit metropolitan areas.
Lyft offered 50 percent off rides to most voting locations nationwide. In some specific regions, such as the Detroit metro area, the discount was structured as "50 percent off or up to $5 off." A specific promo code, VOTEMD2018, was mentioned for use in the Detroit area. Additionally, Lyft announced it would provide free rides to underserved communities facing significant transportation obstacles.
Zipcar, a car-sharing service, offered a $20 credit toward a future trip for members who took a "Ziptrip" on Election Day. In the Boston area, this offer was specifically valid for rentals taken between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on November 6, 2018.
Bike-Sharing and Micro-Mobility
Bike-sharing services also participated by offering free or discounted rides to and from polling places. Lime offered free rides on its bikes and scooters for up to 30 minutes. To use the service, riders were required to enter the promo code LIME2VOTE18 or LIME2VOTE2018. This offer was intended to cover travel to and from polling locations.
Divvy, a bike-share program, offered free rides through an "Explorer Pass." This pass provided unlimited three-hour trips within a 24-hour period. The code VOTE18 was used in the Divvy app or at a bike station kiosk to access the free pass.
Food and Beverage Offers
Numerous restaurant chains and food retailers provided complimentary items or price reductions on Election Day. These promotions typically required proof of voting, such as an "I Voted" sticker, or the use of a digital code.
Major Chains and Restaurants
Shake Shack offered free french fries with any purchase on Election Day. Customers could redeem this offer by showing an "I Voted" sticker in-store or by entering the code "ivoted" within the Shake Shack mobile app.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop provided a free cookie to customers on Election Day. This offer was available simply by asking for a cookie; no proof of voting was required to receive the free item. However, it was noted that Potbelly required an entree purchase for a free cookie.
Jersey Mike's offered a $2 discount on any regular sub.
Corner Bakery required a purchase for a free coffee.
Carl's Jr. encouraged customers to sign up for their rewards program, though specific details of an Election Day offer were not fully detailed in the source material beyond the prompt to sign up.
Drizly, an alcohol delivery service, offered region-specific discounts for Election Day.
Retail and Other Discounts
Beyond transportation and food, several retailers offered discounts to voters. J. Crew offered 20 percent off an order for customers who presented an "I Voted" sticker in-store. Anthology offered a free cup of coffee with a sticker. A CBD Retailer in Nashville offered 20 percent off the entire purchase for in-store visitors who showed proof of voting (sticker or social media post). This offer was valid until November 3rd, encompassing Election Day.
Contests and Sweepstakes
Some promotions went beyond simple discounts, offering entry into contests for larger prizes. The travel company Contiki offered one lucky voter an international excursion. To enter, participants had to post a picture with an "I Voted" sticker or mail-in ballot on Instagram, using the hashtag #votewithnoregrets.
Eligibility and Redemption Rules
Accessing these Election Day freebies generally required specific actions from the consumer. The most common requirement was the presentation of an "I Voted" sticker, which served as physical proof of participation. For digital offers, promo codes were essential. Codes such as VOTE2018 (Uber), LIME2VOTE18 (Lime), and ivoted (Shake Shack) had to be entered into the appropriate app or website to activate the discount.
Many food offers were conditional on a purchase. For example, Shake Shack required a purchase to receive free fries, Potbelly required an entree purchase for a free cookie, and Corner Bakery required a purchase for a free coffee. This structure allowed businesses to drive sales while still providing a value-added incentive to voters.
Conclusion
The 2018 Election Day saw a broad coalition of businesses—from national rideshare giants to local coffee shops—participate in promoting civic engagement through freebies and deals. These offers primarily focused on facilitating transportation to polling places and rewarding voters with food and retail discounts. The availability of these promotions varied by location and required consumers to take specific actions, such as presenting an "I Voted" sticker or using designated promo codes. While these incentives provided tangible benefits to voters, they also served as a marketing tool for brands to align themselves with civic participation and reach a wide audience on a significant national day.