Hannah Kennedy, an unapologetic regular at Opus Coffee, didn’t need much convincing when she saw her friend’s text message: a link to a post announcing free coffee from Opus on Election Day to those who show proof of voting.
The 19-year-old UF biochemistry and biotechnology sophomore cast her ballot early on Halloween, but on Nov. 5, she made her way to the Opus Coffee located in the Innovation District, proudly flashing her “I voted” sticker.
“Please go vote,” Kennedy said as she sipped her drink with a smile. “Whether you have caffeine as your motivator or the motivation comes intrinsically, exercise that civic duty.”
Organizations across the county rallied young voters in the college town with incentives and online promotions. On Tuesday, Farah & Farah Personal Injury Lawyers offered free coffee to voters at over 30 coffee shops across Florida and Georgia, including four Gainesville locations.
Mason Behrens, the 25-year-old digital marketing coordinator for Farah & Farah Personal Injury Lawyers, said the Vote Boldly campaign was born in 2020 as a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, with a mission to drive civic engagement while supporting local businesses.
Inspired by Jacksonville’s bold spirit — known as the "Bold City" — the initiative encourages people to step up and vote with confidence. By partnering with local coffee shops, the campaign offers a simple yet effective incentive: free coffee or tea for anyone who shows proof of voting.
“We wanted to encourage people to be bold when they go out and vote,” Behrens said. “A lot of college students like coffee. It’s a great way to engage the next generation in not only participating in elections but also learning about politics and the issues that directly affect them.”
Whether it's a sticker from the polls or proof of a mail-in ballot, according to Behrens, the goal was to make voting feel more accessible and rewarding, especially for young voters, boosting both turnout and community spirit.
Allison Minnerly, the communications director for People Power for Florida, said she knows that when it comes to reaching younger voters, they’re not exactly being wooed by stuffy campaign speeches or stacks of voter pamphlets.
When the chance arose to text voting information and resources to nearly a million Florida students, People Power for Florida knew a traditional approach wouldn’t cut it. Instead, Minnerly said the organization crafted a message that leaned into the humor and unexpectedness of Gen Z, referencing viral TikTok memes like Freakbob, Brat and AJ and Big Justice.
Photo courtesy of People Power of Florida
“Everyone is getting the same political texts, whether they're asking for money or menacing messages about how they're checking their voter database and can see that you haven't voted yet,” Minnerly wrote in an email to The Alligator. “Our approach is centered around meeting students where they're at and talking to you more like a peer, and trying to be really f*cking funny at the same time.”
People Power for Florida’s outreach also emphasized key amendments on Florida’s ballot, particularly those related to marijuana legalization and abortion rights.
Texts from "Freakbob" urged students to make a plan to vote, providing information on early voting hours at the Reitz Union and offering an easy way to update voter registration. The call to action was simple: “Reply ‘BOOM’ to commit to voting,” making the process both fun and engaging for the chronically online, Minnerly said.
With its attention-grabbing efforts, People Power for Florida took a chance to reach those who are the least politically engaged. Minnerly said this resulted in the organization having its highest response rate of the year, with a surge of engagement from first-time voters who admitted that the campaign reached them in ways others hadn’t.
“We even had students messaging our contact form asking how they could get election reminders and be added to the list,” Minnerly wrote in an email to The Alligator.
When it comes to getting college students to engage with politics, Connor Effrain, the president of UF College Democrats, said the way to young voters’ hearts is pizza.
“We’ve been doing this all across the state,” he said. “It’s not in exchange for anything, just to get your attention. College students love a free meal. That’s what the pizza is for.”
The real goal? To lure students to the UF College Democrats’ table, where young voters and students can chat about voter registration, candidates and the issues that matter to them, Effrain said.
And as it turns out, Effrain said pizza beats every other free food item, even ice cream, every time.
“Pizza is seen as a full meal,” he said, “and it’s the perfect way to start a conversation about voting and politics.”
Contact Sabrina Castro at scastro@alligator.org. Follow her on X @sabs_wurld.
Sabrina Castro is a rising senior studying journalism at the University of Florida and a Summer 2024 reporter for The Avenue. In her free time you can find her scrolling TikTok or searching for hidden gems at local thrift stores.
