Because participating in democracy leads to the same kind of hunger that one experiences after gymnastic sex or smoking a whole bunch of marijuana (or both), a couple national chains are offering voters free comestibles and hot liquids on election day.
So if you wanna get some free stuff for doing what you should be doing anyway, stop into a Starbucks, tell ’em you voted, and get a complimentary tall coffee.
It will go great with the free scoop of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream that you just got for doing the same thing.
And if you’re really into it, you can get thee to a Krispy Kreme and have delivered unto your sticky, post electoral hands, a free, star-shaped donut with patriotic sprinkles. Yum.
After all of that you will have the proper sugar/caffeine buzz necessary to brave the Mercury’s election night party at the Doug Fir. What? You didn’t know that we were going to have an election night party at the Doug Fir? That’s just ridiculous…
I heard (a partial story) on the radio tonight that it’s totally illegal to offer someone something free because they voted, regardless of being connected to a party or candidate because it’s seen as “buying votes.” I couldn’t find anything substantial on The Google to back it up, but my husband said he heard it on Paul Harvey so there ya go.
“David Ammons, spokesman for the state elections division of Washington state, had said earlier that a promotion tied to whether people voted could be construed as rewarding someone for voting and could violate federal and state law. He said the state’s attorney general’s office contacted Starbucks about the issue on Monday.”
http://www.thenewstribune.com/904/story/52…
“Secretary of State Karen Handel reminds Georgia businesses and attractions offering ‘gifts’ for voting in tomorrow’s General Election that it is prohibited under Georgia law.”
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/shared…
Any advice from Mercurians for a new kid in town? Need to know a liquor store where a good bottle of scotch can be found. Northeast side?