First there was the election 'worm'. Now make way for The Bean Poll

Would You Like A Vote With Your Coffee?

People enjoying a coffee break throughout New Zealand now have the chance to predict the outcome of this year's general election.

The Bean Poll has been set up in popular coffee outlets in 11 major cities and towns allowing people to 'vote' for the party of their choice in their area by using a coffee bean.

The 32-outlet Muffin Break chain will give each customer a coffee bean with their coffee purchase and encourage them to place the bean in a transparent cylinder which indicates their preferred party. Each store will have a self-standing unit of five cylinders, four representing the main parties in that area and a fifth for the others.

Says Muffin Break's general manger Garry Croft: "We just wanted to give customers a fun way of participating in the election process and it'll help people focus on which way they'll be voting on the big day.

"The voting will give a strong clue as to local preferences. Most opinion polls only interview about 800 people. I know I've never been asked.

"Considering the thousands of coffees we'll serve during the lead up to election we shouldn't be far off the mark."

Muffin Break stores, spread throughout New Zealand, will tally the 'votes' regularly to track trends. A final prediction, expressed as percentages of the total beans cast, will be announced immediately prior to the election.

"Television has its 'worm'; we've got our Bean Poll," says Mr Croft.

Muffin Break franchisees will be inviting local political candidates to drop in for a coffee and check on how they're doing in the Bean Poll.

Muffin Break stores are found in Whangarei, Whangaparaoa, greater Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Mt Maunganui, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

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