IRVING, Texas, and YORK, Pa. – With the arrival of Election Day 2016, convenience-store retailers 7-Eleven Inc. and Rutter’s Farm Stores closed out their respective coffee or fountain cup promotions and are preparing to report the final vote tallies.
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7-Eleven has conducted its 7-Election Presidential Coffee Cup Poll in every U.S. presidential campaign since 2000. The chain’s fifth 7-Election poll officially ends Election Day, Nov. 8 with a free coffee offer for mobile-app users.
The campaign encourages customers to “vote” by purchasing coffee in specially marked 7-Election “Stay Hot” cups: blue for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, red for Republican candidate Donald Trump and, new this year, a nonpartisan, purple "Speak Up" cup. The new Speak Up cup encouraged customers to discuss or write in what's important to them this election season and share on social media with the hashtag #7ELECTION.
With 7-Election, the retailer has been part of the political conversation during the past four presidential elections, in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. In each of the previous 7-Elections, customers "cast" six million cups (votes), and results in each mirrored those in the real elections, the company said.
As of the posting of this story, most voters nationwide (in 7-Eleven Inc.’s marketing areas) chose the new Speak Up cup this year (40%), but for those choosing blue or red cups, the Democrats have a slight lead heading into Election Day, 31% to 29%.
For 7-Election, Speak Up leads in 30 of the 33 states where Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven Inc. has stores.
Clinton leads in Maryland with 38% to Trump’s 26% and Speak Up’s 36%. She also leads in Delaware with 36% to Trump’s 28% and Speak Up’s 36% Speak Up. In all, Clinton beats Trump in 19 states.
Trump is ahead in Idaho, with 49% to Clinton’s 13% and Speak Up’s 38%. In all, Trump beats Clinton in 12 states.
Clinton and Trump are tied in two states.
Click here for the full national, state and store-specific results.
Meanwhile, Rutter’s Farm Stores used this year’s presidential election to launch its Vote With Your Cups promotion.
Customers can purchase a blue cup representing Clinton or a red cup representing Trump when they purchase a fountain or frozen drink.
The “Tally-Up Tuesday” results as of Nov. 1 give Trump a landslide at 80% to Clinton’s 20%.
Click here to view the full results.
With the election coming to close, York, Pa.-based Rutter’s is selling empty cups at a discount, according to this tweet:
"Election Party Cups! Watch the election with your #VoteWithYourCup Presidential Cups. Now ... 10 empty cups are only $1!"
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