Vote Suppression Efforts By Retailers Through Election Day Sales

[Median Democrat]

Election day is typically a lousy shopping day. First, its on a Tuesday, in the middle of the workweek. Second, people are generally voting. Nonetheless, retailers like Wal-Mart are running sales on Election Day. Does it make business sense to raise your labor costs by holding a sale on a lousy shopping day? Or, are retailers like Wal-Mart pursuing an ulterior motive by keeping their workforce from voting?

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2004-11-01-election-retail_x.htm

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There's one thing few folks are expected to vote for Tuesday: a trip to the store.
Retailers know that Election Day is a lousy shopping day. Many consumers will use whatever free time they have to vote, then scamper home after work to watch election results. But retailers are wise to this — and have other ideas.

Some are promoting Election Day sales. Others are selling election-themed goods. Or marketing with election-themed ads. A number will be broadcasting election results right in the stores.

With the future of the nation at stake, will the tough go shopping? Not many, during this heated election, say retail experts.

"This year will be a landmark in defining the impact of elections on shopping," says Wendy Liebmann, president of WSL Strategic Retail.

Liebmann thinks most folks will run to the store today and tonight only for necessities — such as diapers, milk "and libations."

Even so, retailers are searching for ways to nudge folks out today:

• Broadcasting election results. Shoppers at any of 2,620 Wal-Marts tonight will see live election coverage via a link with Fox News. The coverage is a way to keep shoppers and employees informed, says Charlie Nooney, CEO of Premier Retail Networks, the nation's largest in-store TV network.

By broadcasting Fox's election returns, Wal-Mart may be showing a Republican point of view to shoppers, Liebmann says. "Most retailers tend to keep political affiliations to themselves," she says.

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[Retrograde]

1. sounds more like an attempt

to get someone, anyone to buy stuff. If a store I plan to patronize anyway is having an election day sale, I'd be more likely to stop by.

There was a restaurant, now defunct, near me that used to offer a free beverage to anyone who showed their voting receipt. Same principle: get bodies through the door.