# Starbucks offers free coffee for voters! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972 "2008-11-04T01:45:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bassoonatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bassoonatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bassoonatic)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/1 "2008-11-04T01:45:46Z")
Starbucks is offering a free cup of coffee tomorrow for all those who vote: [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/02/starbucks-offers-free-cof\_n\_140087.html](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/02/starbucks-offers-free-cof_n_140087.html) Anyone else as excited about this as I am? ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/2 "2008-11-04T01:55:08Z")
You don’t have to show an “I voted” sticker or anything? Won’t people just go and get a free cup of coffee without voting? ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/3 "2008-11-04T02:23:06Z")
It’s not just SBUX, it’s also Krispy Kreme and Ben and Jerry’s. Krispy Kreme is offering patriotic star-shaped donuts, while Ben and Jerry’s are offering one free scoop of ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/4 "2008-11-04T02:27:32Z")
One of my fave local restaurants, When Pigs Fly, is giving free beer to voters. All you have to do is show up at their bar with an “I voted” sticker, and get one draft beer of your choosing, free. ---
**Author:** ![Caveat\_lector\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Caveat\_lector\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caveat_lector_1)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/5 "2008-11-04T02:56:10Z")
According to this they could get themselves in trouble. I hope not though. I’d be kinda silly. [http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=50042&catid=2](http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=50042&catid=2) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/6 "2008-11-04T03:03:06Z")
> [@lizardling](#): > > while Ben and Jerry’s are offering one free scoop of ice cream. But B&J are only offering it in a narrow window during the late afternoon/early evening, so after waiting for hours in line to vote, you can wait hours in line for Phish Phood. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/7 "2008-11-04T03:04:09Z")
That’s nothing. Babeland is offering free vibrators if you vote. ---
**Author:** ![sundog66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@sundog66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sundog66)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/8 "2008-11-04T03:18:23Z")
> [@Caveat\_lector\_1](#): > > According to this they could get themselves in trouble. I hope not though. I’d be kinda silly. > > [404 Not Found | abc10.com](http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=50042&catid=2) So according to this link, you don’t actually have to vote to get the free coffee. My question is, how are they going to enforce the one-cup-per-person limit? ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/9 "2008-11-04T04:01:27Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > That’s nothing. Babeland is offering free vibrators if you vote. Ugh! I don’t live anywhere near a retail store…if I mail you my sticker, can you go for me? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/10 "2008-11-04T04:05:48Z")
I hate to be a party pooper, but such promotions may be illegal in California. Years ago Trader Joe’s would give you a free Hershey bar if you showed your I voted card here in California. Didn’t matter who you voted for, just that you voted. Anyway at one election, TJ’s had bought 1.2 Bazillion Hershey bars to give out. A day or two before the election, they got a letter from the State government stating that such giveaways are illegal in California. AIR giving anything away in trade for a vote is illegal in California. As a result, TJ had one hell of a sale on Hershey bars. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/11 "2008-11-04T04:08:54Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I hate to be a party pooper, but such promotions may be illegal in California. I was registered non-partisan in California. One time (2000?) I voted, and the Republican party were offering a free doughnut to people who voted. I voted for the Democrat. Still got my doughnut. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/12 "2008-11-04T05:50:37Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I was registered non-partisan in California. One time (2000?) I voted, and the Republican party were offering a free doughnut to people who voted. I voted for the Democrat. Still got my doughnut. 😃 🙂 I bet that tasted good! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/13 "2008-11-04T06:29:38Z")
I remember in 1972 Dunkin Donuts was offering a free donut to anyone with an “I Voted – Have You?” stub from their ballot. When 1976 came around, and I voted in my first Presidential election, I was very disappointed to learn that they had ceased and desisted from the practice. What would be cool is if Starbucks and those other folks would have coupons available at the polling places, to be given to anyone for the asking, whether they vote or whether they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/14 "2008-11-04T13:18:48Z")
Free donuts and coffee? [‘Tain’t nuthin’](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27455136/) > [@](#): > > Babeland, with stores in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, is offering a pair of self-gratifying incentives for voters who present their registration cards, ballot stubs or “word of honor” that they voted next Tuesday. > > The rewards are no-so-subtle reminders of this year’s campaign rhetoric. For men, it’s the “Maverick,” a “sleeve” for self-pleasuring. According to a press release, “He’s always there to lend a hand, he works for every man, and he bucks the status quo.” Women can choose the “Silver Bullet” mini-vibrator, which is “a magical solution to difficult problems” and “a great stress-reliever during these troubled economic times!” The promotion lasts through Nov. 11. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/15 "2008-11-04T14:35:45Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I hate to be a party pooper, but such promotions may be illegal in California. > Years ago Trader Joe’s would give you a free Hershey bar if you showed your I voted card here in California. Didn’t matter who you voted for, just that you voted. > Anyway at one election, TJ’s had bought 1.2 Bazillion Hershey bars to give out. A day or two before the election, they got a letter from the State government stating that such giveaways are illegal in California. > AIR giving anything away in trade for a vote is illegal in California. > As a result, TJ had one hell of a sale on Hershey bars. When I got my free coffee this morning at Starbucks, the barista said no proof was required. If you want a free cup of coffee, just ask for it. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/16 "2008-11-04T14:40:27Z")
Last time around, I traded in my sticker for a chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A. I’ll be doing the same later today. ---
**Author:** ![accidentalyuppie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@accidentalyuppie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/accidentalyuppie)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/17 "2008-11-04T14:45:02Z")
Oh great…2 impossibly long lines in one day ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/18 "2008-11-04T14:47:05Z")
I got a free coffee at Caribou this morning, but that may have been a personal choice of my barista. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/19 "2008-11-04T14:51:55Z")
They didn’t have any damn stickers at my voting location! :mad: Now I can’t stick it onto my nameplate at work, along with my previous I Voted! sticker and my “be nice to me, I gave blood today!” sticker. I try to cover all bases of self-righteousness. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/20 "2008-11-04T15:31:05Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Ugh! I don’t live anywhere near a retail store…if I mail you my sticker, can you go for me? Maybe there’s a way to claim it online? ETA: Looked online, and appears not. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972.md?page=2)