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LI chain launches cocktail poll, offering MAGA-Ritas or KAMALA-Coladas

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Presidential Polling on Long Island

Early voting is now open at Long Island’s Village Idiot locations across Suffolk County, where cocktails are a proxy for voter polls.

Bartenders are serving up MAGA-Ritas or KAMALA-Coladas to thirsty politicos, along with the option to cast a “vote” in this year’s heated presidential election.

And if the national polls are any indication, this will be a close one.

Now, New York is no swing state by any means (these sort of food and drink polls are very popular in swing states), but Suffolk is certainly a swing county.

As of November 2023, there were 185,043 registered Democrats and 181,090 registered Republicans in New York’s 1st Congressional District, which stretches from Huntington to Montauk, for example. Those are razor thin margins.

The winner gets announced on the morning of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, through the Village Idiot’s social media feeds. The company’s VIP Room event space in Patchogue is also hosting an election results watch party that night, with a free buffet and cash bar.

Village Idiot Pub, with locations in Patchogue, Oakdale, Riverhead, Hauppauge (the OTB Racing Forum) and Lake Grove, is owned by Silver Lining Restaurant Group.

Silver Lining founder John Sarno said he was looking to add a little levity to an otherwise tense presidential election year.

“Just a little fun in such crazy, serious and contentious times,” Sarno said.

How it works

So we know what you’re thinking, what if you’re a big Kamala Harris supporter but also love margaritas? You could still order up a MAGA-Rita (even if you prefer to whisper it), but cast a ballot for the Democrat.

That’s because every Presidential cocktail order is served with a ballot for patrons to fill out.

Each ballot is also a sweepstakes entry, with a chance to win a gift card to all the Village Idiots, or the company’s other three restaurants: Drift 82 and CHOPS Steakhouse in Patchogue, and Castaways in Port Jefferson.

— courtesy photo of a KAMALA-Colada and MAGA-Rita from Village Idiot Pub

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