Election Day in the United States often coincides with a variety of promotional offers from businesses aiming to encourage civic participation or simply capitalize on the increased foot traffic. While Election Day is not a federal holiday, many companies provide discounts, free products, or special services to individuals who cast their ballots. These offers range from free food and beverages to discounted transportation services. The following guide details verified promotions available nationwide, based on information from recent news reports and official company announcements.
Nationwide Food and Beverage Promotions
Several major food chains offer free items or significant discounts on Election Day. These promotions typically require minimal verification, such as mentioning a specific phrase at the register or showing an "I Voted" sticker.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme offers a free Original Glazed doughnut to all customers visiting U.S. stores on Election Day. The company explicitly states that recipients do not need to prove they cast a ballot to receive the freebie. Additionally, Krispy Kreme provides "I Voted" stickers to customers, including those who voted by mail-in ballot.
Johnny Rockets
The 1950s diner-style chain Johnny Rockets provides customers with one free shake with an in-store purchase on Election Day. To redeem this offer, guests must mention "Free Shake" at the register at participating locations.
Chili’s
Chili’s offers a $5 Presidente Margarita on Election Day. This promotion is available only at participating Chili’s locations.
Boston Market
Boston Market locations offer a free slider from 9:00 p.m. until closing on Election Day. This promotion is intended for customers watching election results.
Round Table Pizza
Round Table Pizza offers $6 off a large or extra-large pizza for dine-in, carry-out, or delivery at participating locations. This chain has a significant presence on the West Coast.
4Rivers Smokehouse
Diners who present an "I Voted" sticker at any 4Rivers Smokehouse location on Election Day will receive a free Patriot-themed cookie.
Lazy Dog Restaurants
Lazy Dog restaurants, which operate approximately 50 locations across eight states, offer a free non-alcoholic drink with an entree purchase to diners who present an "I Voted" sticker.
Ikea
Participating Ikea locations offer a free frozen yogurt on Election Day. While recipients do not need to prove they voted, they must present a printed or electronic version of a coupon to redeem the offer.
Transportation and Ride-Share Offers
To facilitate travel to polling places, several transportation services provide discounted or free rides on Election Day.
Uber
Uber offers riders 50% off trips to their polling place, up to a maximum discount of $10. The app also includes a feature to help users locate the nearest polling place. Users will see a "Go Vote!" tile in the app on Election Day.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats offers 25% off orders up to $15, with a minimum order value of $25. This offer is available from 6:00 p.m. local time on November 5 until 7:00 a.m. local time on November 6.
Lime
Lime offers free scooter or bike rides to the polls. Users can enter the code VOTE2024 at checkout to receive the free ride. This offer is valid now through Election Day.
Health and Wellness Promotions
Some businesses offer services aimed at reducing stress associated with Election Day.
Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness allows anyone to exercise for free at any location from November 3 through November 8. This promotion is designed to help individuals work off Election Day stress.
Legal Context and Eligibility
It is important to note the legal distinctions regarding these promotions. Federal law prohibits rewarding individuals specifically for voting or paying people to register to vote. Therefore, the offers described above are structured as general promotions or discounts that happen to coincide with Election Day, rather than direct payments for casting a ballot.
Most of these offers are available at participating locations only, and availability may vary by region. Consumers are advised to check with local businesses for specific Election Day promotions not listed in national reports.
Conclusion
Election Day serves as an opportunity for various businesses to engage with consumers through promotional offers. These range from free food items at major chains like Krispy Kreme and Johnny Rockets to discounted transportation services from Uber and Lime. While these incentives are not direct rewards for voting, they provide added value to individuals participating in the democratic process. As these offers are subject to participation by individual franchisees and locations, consumers should verify availability with their local establishments.