The only line longer than the the ones at the polls today is the one outside of Ben & Jerry’s. I snapped a photo of students who braved the light drizzle to get free ice cream the store is handing out to those who voted today.
Want your own free scoop? Go to Ben & Jerry’s any time before 8. Plan to wait a while - the line wraps around the corner.
Students line up outside Ben & Jerry's for free ice cream.
Polls opened in Pennsylvania about three hours ago, though it’s OK if you’re just waking up–there’s still plenty of time before polls close this evening.
A quick scan of polling locations showed the lines aren’t that bad right now. In fact, the line at Starbucks under Commons (where I just got my free coffee!) is longer than the lines to vote in the polling places in the high rises. The free-coffee thing seems to be going well for Starbucks; plenty of students are still ordering venti iced Americanos and they’re definitely busier than normal.
And while nice, the promotion doesn’t appear to be a motivating factor to mobilize votes. Vet student Carolyn Abramson said that, while the promotion was “kind of awesome” she had voted before hearing about the free tall. Plenty of students, too, are wearing “I voted!” stickers but still shelling out Dining Dollar$ for their fave drink.
Don’t forget that this afternoon between 5 and 8pm you can pick up a free scoop of Ben and Jerry’s in honor of democracy as well. I recommend Americone Dream.
Number of Barack the Vote shirts sighted so far: 9
Number of Penn Leads the Vote shirts sighted so far: 6
Penn for Hillary and Penn for Obama have nothing on these kids.
Today from about 3:00-3:30 p.m., a gaggle of kids from the after-school program at St. Mary’s (think the church next to the Tampons) marched on the Button, reminding students and passersby to vote today. They also shouted their support for their candidate of choice.
And the candidate whose captured the hearts and minds of these future voters?
Overwhelmingly, Barack Obama.
“My mom says he’s awesome,” said Lillian, aged 7.
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