2020 Election Day Freebies and Candidate Promises: A Consumer Guide to Offers and Policy Proposals

The 2020 election cycle introduced a unique landscape for consumers, characterized by both immediate, tangible freebies available on Election Day and broader policy proposals from Democratic candidates that promised various forms of financial relief and free services. While the candidates' proposals focused on large-scale government programs, Election Day itself saw participation from numerous retailers and service providers offering discounts and complimentary items to voters. This article examines the specific freebies available during that period and outlines the "free" policy initiatives proposed by 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, based on contemporary reports.

Election Day Retail Freebies and Discounts

On November 3, 2020, several national brands and restaurant chains offered promotions to individuals participating in the democratic process. These offers were generally available without strict eligibility requirements beyond visiting participating locations, though specific terms regarding availability and supplies applied.

Food and Beverage Offers

A variety of dining establishments provided complimentary items or discounts to voters: * Krispy Kreme: Participating locations offered a free Original Glazed Doughnut to all guests. The promotion also included a commemorative "I Voted" sticker, available while supplies lasted. * Boston Market: For those staying up late to watch election results, Boston Market offered a free slider after 9:00 p.m. * Chili's Grill & Bar: The chain offered the Presidente Margarita for $5. Additionally, customers could receive a free commemorative sticker, subject to availability. * Biggby Coffee: Customers could choose between a buy-one-get-one free deal or $1 off any drink up to 24 ounces at participating locations. * Jimmy John’s: A 50% discount was available on any 8" or 16" sandwich when ordered online or via the app using the promo code "SAVEON2". * Krispy Kreme: All guests were eligible for a free Original Glazed Doughnut and a commemorative "I Voted" sticker, while supplies lasted.

Food Delivery Services

Third-party delivery platforms also facilitated access to deals: * DoorDash: The platform offered free delivery on all orders with a $15 minimum on Election Day using the promo code VOTE. For DashPass subscribers, who typically receive free delivery, DoorDash provided an additional 10% off orders with code DPVOTE. * Grubhub: Discounts and promotions varied by restaurant. Notable participating chains included Burger King and Jersey Mike’s, which offered discounts and freebies for qualifying purchases.

Transportation Services

Ride-sharing companies provided assistance for travel to polling places: * Lyft: Users could receive 50% off one ride to a polling place or ballot dropbox, up to a $10 discount, on Election Day. * DoorDash: While primarily a food delivery service, the platform's free delivery offer facilitated access to food without travel costs.

Democratic Candidate Policy Proposals: "Freebies" and Financial Relief

During the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, candidates proposed a wide array of policies described as "free" services or financial assistance. These proposals targeted specific demographics and economic challenges, ranging from student loan debt to child care and basic income.

Student Loan Debt Forgiveness

Addressing the $1.5 trillion student loan debt crisis was a significant topic. Several candidates proposed plans to alleviate this burden: * Joe Biden: Proposed cutting student loans in half and increasing Pell Grants. * Elizabeth Warren: Advocated for the cancellation of student loan debt for 95% of borrowers. * Bernie Sanders: Proposed forgiving all student loans, including those held by high-income earners.

Child Care and Early Education

Candidates offered plans to reduce costs for families with young children: * Elizabeth Warren: Released a plan for universal child care for children aged 0 to 5. * Kamala Harris, Sherrod Brown, and Michael Bennet: Proposed tax credits to benefit working families. * Cory Booker: Introduced a "baby bond" program, where every American would receive funds redeemable at age 18. * Kirsten Gillibrand: Made paid family leave a central issue in her campaign. * Julián Castro: Promised "pre-K for the USA."

Higher Education

Tuition-free or debt-free college was a common goal among candidates: * Bernie Sanders: Made free college a top-tier issue in 2016, a stance that influenced many 2020 candidates. * Elizabeth Warren: Included universal tuition-free college in her platform.

Healthcare and Social Security

Proposals extended to healthcare access for older adults and benefits for seniors: * Sherrod Brown, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, and Amy Klobuchar: Supported a bill allowing anyone over 50 to buy into Medicare. * Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Sherrod Brown: Launched an "Expand Social Security Caucus" to support legislation boosting Social Security benefits.

Universal Basic Income (UBI)

Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang centered his campaign on a Universal Basic Income proposal: * Andrew Yang: Promised to guarantee every American over the age of 18 $1,000 per month. He proposed funding this through the consolidation of some welfare programs and a 10% value-added tax (VAT), estimated to raise $800 billion.

Fundraising and Debate Qualification

The 2020 Democratic primary also highlighted the role of small-dollar donations in campaign strategy and debate qualification. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) established rules requiring candidates to receive donations from a specific number of unique individuals to qualify for the debate stage.

Initial Requirements: Candidates needed donations from 65,000 individuals across 20 different states, or 1% in three national or early-state polls.
Subsequent Requirements: For later debates, the donor threshold increased to 130,000 unique donors, alongside polling requirements.

This emphasis on grassroots fundraising led campaigns to prioritize small donations, utilizing email campaigns and digital platforms like ActBlue to engage voters. The strategy allowed political newcomers like Andrew Yang to qualify for debates alongside more established candidates.

Conclusion

The 2020 election cycle provided consumers with direct access to Election Day freebies from brands such as Krispy Kreme, Chili's, and Lyft. Simultaneously, the Democratic primary field introduced a comprehensive set of policy proposals that would function as large-scale "freebies" if enacted. These included debt forgiveness, universal child care, free college tuition, and guaranteed basic income. While the retail offers were immediate and actionable, the candidate proposals represented long-term structural changes to the U.S. social safety net and economy.