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Free Goodies in Exchange for Voting Stickers
November 04, 2008 7:37 PM
ABC News On Campus reporter Dominick Tao blogs:
Behind the bar of The Swamp Restaurant, one of the best-known watering holes in Gainesville, Fla., an array of liquor bottles makes a proud display of civic pride.
A corked container of Patron Silver tequila wears an "I Voted" sticker just below its decorative ribbon. A Parrot Bay rum bottle sports an "I Voted" sticker sponsored by the
Barack Obama campaign, with "Change" written across it. Even the top-shelf Gray Goose wore a red, white and blue sticker.
Since the restaurant opened at 11 a.m., the customers have been coming in, trading their "I Voted" stickers for a free beer or martini. The stickers go from their shirts to the liquor shelf.
The Swamp, like several other businesses in this college town, has been giving away free goodies in exchange for customers' proof of voting.
Why?
"There was a lot more attention to the election this year, and this is for a good cause," said Jeff Bartholomew, The Swamp's general manager.
Bartholomew said he expects to give away a few hundred free drinks.
A few miles across town at the Starbucks on Northwest 13th Street, baristas have been serving up free 12-ounce coffees to customers with a voter registration card or proof-of-voting sticker. The chalkboard in the coffee house announced the promotion as the "Swing State Special."
And for those with more of a sweet tooth, both Krispy Kreme Donuts and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream have been giving out free treats to celebrate Election Day.
Students are taking up these civic duty-for-freebies offers with zeal.
University of Florida freshmen and fist-time voters Tahnee Guite, Melissa Font and Amylee Slicko made a beeline for the Krispy Kreme near campus after they finished with classes and cast their ballots.
"We voted, waited for our friend, then came to get our donut," Slicko said. "We're going to Starbucks next."
November 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (2)
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Just to throw this out to all the businesses it is illegal to give out freebies to only the people who voted. You can't discriminate against the people who didn't vote. You have to give the free stuff to everyone!!!!
Posted by: Rick Clifford | Nov 4, 2008 8:18:02 PM
For such a special and historical election it was very sterile.
While there were no glitches at my polling place there was no glitz either.
Watching the 5 PM news I noted other voters were given stickers that said I VOTED.
I have voted 12 times now in Presidential elections.
My first job out of high school was at a radio sttion owned by former NM Governor, John Burroughs. Many a discussion was delivered by him on the importance of just one vote.
My husband and I met at the funeral for a fallen Vietnam War soldier.
My 9 children owe their existance to the fact that someone was willing to fight for their freedom.
My husband has been a scout master for years. Each of my 3 sons are Eagle Scouts.
One of my 20 grandchildren just became an Eagle Scout.
I share this because of the importance of celebration and ceremony.
Saluting the flag is moving for all of us.
Imagine my nostalgia as we went to vote, at my old mid school.
My children attended there and I did my Masters in Counseling Internship there.
Our family ties to the North Valley are strong. Many years before I had worked as a poll worker in this very Taft Mid School gymnasium.
We arrived at 6:40AM. At 7:00 AM there was no flags, and no anthemn. I even started to sing, "OHHHoh say can you see?" and I was shushed.
My husband was given a slip noting he was #One, I received #TWO.
We voted. We turned in our sheets, and had to hand over our voting numbers.
There was no sticker, no memento, no fanfare.
It felt anticlimatic. ..as tho the hand in the bucket of water makes a small wave and in minutes it is still as tho no hand was ever there.
I did not want our hand to be invisible or minimized.
I emailed all our children at 7:18AM nagging them to all get out and vote, because my 20 grandchildren depend on their freedom for it.
Our hand will be felt.
But next time, I will lobby for more flags hanging, more stickers, more celebration and validation and appreciation for the voters who venture out.
And yes there should be some high stepping patriotic music. Where are the drummers? Bring in the Band!
Posted by: Betty Butler | Nov 4, 2008 10:56:07 PM
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