Convenience store chain 7-Eleven started on March 10 its 7-Election informal presidential poll featuring Gulp cups bearing names and images of the leading candidates and even a choice for those who remain undecided.
“For the duration of the campaign, anyone who wants his vote to be counted can just visit any 7-Eleven store and pick up a 16oz Gulp Cup that bears the colors and image of their Presidential bet. And we’re making it easier and accessible for Filipinos to let their voices be heard by making it available in over 450 stores,” said Jose Victor Paterno, President and CEO of Philippine Seven Corporation, Philippine licensee of 7-Eleven stores.
Paterno said that 7-11 stores in the US has done this kind of informal poll for three consecutive US elections since 2000.
A 7-11 press release explained that “to ensure the veracity of each vote, each Presidentiable is assigned a specific barcode, which 7-11 cashiers will scan upon purchase of your Gulp® cup. All votes are carefully audited and may be verified online at www.7-election.com.ph. The public can expect updates on polling results from the website and their official media partners GMA7 and MBC, with daily updates on Unang Hirit and Love Radio. Voters may even share their vote thru Facebook.”
The public may check 7-11′s website for time to time for a graph and geotagging of running poll results.
The 7-Election poll will run until May 4, 2010.
[All photos used in this post come from 7-Eleven's Facebook Page. For more photos, check out The Black Fedora blog. ]