# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/21 "2008-11-04T15:34:24Z")
My co-worker went to Starbuck’s this morning and said she didn’t like coffee, and scored a free cup of tea. Wonder if it’ll work for cocoa? I hate coffee too. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/22 "2008-11-04T15:38:45Z")
I went in, showed my sticker and scored some java. They had one person set aside to deal with the voters, but the line was moving very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/23 "2008-11-04T15:44:52Z")
I must be one of the few people who doesn’t have a Starbucks right around the corner. In fact, none of the places offering freebies are within a convenient distance. I guess I don’t get anything for voting but a new president. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/24 "2008-11-04T19:54:20Z")
Heck, Starbucks had their people at the polls handing out the coffee. So free coffee, delivered! ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/25 "2008-11-04T19:56:30Z")
Yeah…starbucks barista here…it was fun fun fun… ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/26 "2008-11-04T23:00:07Z")
WHOhooo!! ---
**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, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/27 "2008-11-04T23:29:23Z")
::sips coffee:: mmmm 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/28 "2008-11-04T23:42:14Z")
I got mine through the drive up and didn’t even have to show my sticker (I voted last week). I tipped him a dollar on a $1.60 cup of coffee. Now I remember why I don’t do this daily. Coffee cost + tip = more than I’m willing to pay for coffee. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/29 "2008-11-04T23:51:26Z")
> [@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. 😃 > [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > 🙂 I bet that tasted good! Mmmm…forbidden doughnut… ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/30 "2008-11-05T01:24:25Z")
Starbucks was told they could not offer incentive for people to vote or register to vote so it was just changed to “Election Celebration Day.” --No cite on that but I heard it on NPR this morning. You just had to ask for it and they would give you a free tall cuppa joe. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/31 "2008-11-05T01:31:12Z")
It was funny because some people wouldnt get it… Me: Hi what can i get for you Her: coffee Me: What size? Her: tall Me: Did you vote today? Her: no Me: Your coffee is free if you voted did you vote today? Her: no (and slides me money on the table…) Actually we made so much in tips because most people would put the money for the coffee in the tip jar. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/32 "2008-11-05T02:11:41Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I must be one of the few people who doesn’t have a Starbucks right around the corner. I’m imagining tumbleweeds blowing down deserted streets, derelict cars and month-old newspapers littering sidewalks… And the Dopers above are correct; offering ANYTHING in exchange for voting is illegal, at least here in Tennessee, and probably in most states as well. From Section 2-19-126 of the Tennesse Code: > [@](#): > > It is unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, personally or through any other person to: > > ``` > (1) Pay, loan, contribute, or offer or promise to pay, loan or contribute any money, property, or other valuable thing, to or for any voter, or to or for any other person, to induce such voter or any voter to vote or refrain from voting in any political convention, primary or final election of any kind or character, or to induce such voter or voters to vote or refrain from voting at any such convention, primary or final election for or against any particular person or measure, or on account of any voter having voted for or against any particular person or measure, or having gone to or remained away from the polls at any such convention, primary or final election > > ``` In other words, you can’t offer anything to anyone in exchange for voting, even if you don’t tell them whom to vote for. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/33 "2008-11-05T08:39:23Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > That’s nothing. Babeland is offering free vibrators if you vote. The Seattle store ran out - apparently they gave away ~700 and are getting more in tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972/34 "2008-11-05T17:22:49Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I voted for the Democrat. Still got my doughnut. 😃 Isn’t it really stale by now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-offers-free-coffee-for-voters/470972.md?page=1)