Free food, drink may await residents who vote today
Politics Three restaurants try to entice people to go to the polls
Comments 
2
BY ANN KELLEY
Published: November 4, 2008
At least three major chains are offering free food and drink today to Oklahoma voters.
"I Voted” stickers at the Oklahoma County Election Board as folks vote in the presidential election on the first day of absentee voting in Oklahoma City on Friday. Photo BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN
Featured Video
Advertisement
Not a problem
State Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman said these clearly are instances of corporations trying to boost their business, not spin politics. However, there are cases where enticing voters to the polls with free items violates state and federal law. He said giveaways that target a voter demographic to sway the outcome of an election are illegal. For example, a business offering free fishing licenses to turn out voters on a state question that affects fishing would be seriously suspect, he said. Brian Hilgenfeld, franchise operator for Chick-fil-A at Quail Springs Mall, said the chicken giveaway is merely to reward people for voting. It’s being offered at 17 of its 24 locations in Oklahoma, excluding those on college campuses.Just vote
"It doesn’t matter to us who you vote for, we just want you to get out and vote,” Hilgenfeld said. Representatives for Krispy Kreme and Starbucks said the same. Krispy Kreme spokeswoman Ayana Hernandez said the company’s Hot Vote Now promotion may result in giving away 200,000 doughnuts nationwide, valued at 99 cents each.
Related Topics:
Politics, Elections and Voting
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).