IRVING, Texas – The election season is about to get even more heated, with millions of American coffee drinkers letting their voices be heard in the 7-Election Presidential Coffee Cup Poll at participating 7-Eleven stores.
Every four years during the U.S. presidential campaign, 7-Eleven launches its 7-Election coffee cup poll. The campaign invites customers to "cast their cups" by purchasing coffee in specially marked 7-Election cups. Starting August 31 and ending November 8, customers can choose from three different cup: blue Democrat, red Republican and, new this year, a nonpartisan purple Speak Up cup.
"This is 7-Eleven's fifth 7-Election, and it's always a fun way to keep a finger on the caffeinated pulse of American politics," said Laura Gordon, 7-Eleven vice president of marketing and brand innovation. "Weeks before 7-Election cups appeared in stores, we were getting calls about whether we were going to hold another coffee cup poll for the 2016 election. We think it's the best-tasting poll around."
For those not interested in taking sides, the new purple Speak Up cup encourages customers to discuss or write in what's important to them this election season and share on social media with the hashtag #7ELECTION.
"While preparing for the 2016 count-the-cups poll, we learned that voters, particularly younger ones, aren't just talking about candidates or even political parties this election. They're taking to social media to talk about a variety of issues that are important to them," Gordon said. "So we added the third Speak Up cup to let people say what's on their mind, whether checking one of the boxes on the back of the cup or writing one in and sharing it."
To encourage even higher turnout, Free Coffee Week is slated for October 3-9, when any size cup of fresh-brewed coffee will be free for 7Rewards members. Available through the 7-Eleven mobile app, a 7Rewards coupon for one free any-size cup of coffee will be sent daily to members. During Free Coffee Week, 7Rewards members will receive a daily coupon for one free cup of coffee of any size.
And after each of the three presidential debates, 7-Eleven will host a Dollar Day to encourage day-after feedback on the debate. Dollar Days are scheduled for September 27 and October 10 and 20. The retailer will also offer dollar coffee on Election Day, November 8, to encourage people to vote with their cups one last time before the real ballots are counted. The dollar offers are only available on 7-Election cups through the 7Rewards app.
7-Eleven cups are instantly tabulated at the register when the sale is made. Starting September 6, national, state and major city results will be posted daily on 7election.com. Poll tallies will reflect the percentage of the three cups sold to date.
"Each day, more than 1 million Americans buy a cup of coffee at 7-Eleven stores," said Rusty Smith, 7-Eleven director of proprietary beverage brands. "7-Election is a warmup for the real election Nov. 8 and gets people talking about what party and what issues are important to them. Most polls measure only hundreds or thousands of voters. 7-Election has the potential to survey millions leading up to Election Day. We think the new 'Speak Up' cup provides a great way for our loyal coffee customers to let their voices be heard during the 2016 election."
A nonpartisan beverage enjoyed by Democrats and Republicans alike, coffee does have deep political roots in American history. In 1607, Captain John Smith of Virginia introduced coffee in America, and it was named the national beverage by the First Continental Congress after the Boston Tea Party.
