Las Vegas Weekly

November 3, 2008 · 2:49 PM

Sweet taste of patriotic pastry for Vegas voters

By Sarah Feldberg

The Cupcakery's Election Day cupcakes.

It’s time. Less than 24 hours from now Americans from Wasilla to Washington D.C. will vote for the next president of the United States. It’s the end of an election season that has been so exciting, volatile and so down right dirty that it has managed to loosen the magnetic grip on national attention of The Hills Britney Spears and (to some extent) Paris Hilton. As if casting a vote in a state where every single vote matters isn’t motivation enough, Las Vegas bakeshop the Cupcakery is sweetening democracy with a free snack for voters. 1 vote = 1 cupcake.

Customers who show an “I Voted” sticker tomorrow at either of the Valley Cupcakery locations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. can redeem the sticky badge of honor for a free patriotic cupcake in red, white or blue. Brilliant in its simplicity, this food-as-reward bargaining has worked for years on elementary school students, office workers and dogs. Why not voters? I’d recommend we use this tactic on all future elections, especially local elections that often have lower voter turnout than their national counterparts. Free slice for your vote on proposition two? Pepperoni, please.

While the Cupcakery can promise to deliver on primary-colored baked goods, it can’t, of course, deliver your president of choice or guarantee a short line to pick up your democratic treat. Like the polls themselves, you’ll just have to get there bright and early.

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