Election Day 2024, held on November 5, saw numerous national and regional brands offering promotions, discounts, and free items to individuals, often tied to the act of voting. These offers ranged from free food and beverages to discounted rideshare services and retail perks. While some promotions required proof of voting, such as an "I Voted" sticker, others were available to all customers regardless of voting status. This guide details the various freebies and deals available, their eligibility requirements, and important legal considerations surrounding these promotions.
Food and Beverage Promotions
A wide variety of restaurants and food chains offered free items or significant discounts on Election Day. These promotions were among the most widely reported and accessible offers.
Donuts and Coffee
- Krispy Kreme: The doughnut chain provided a free Original Glazed doughnut to all customers at participating U.S. shops. This offer did not require proof of voting. The company also distributed "I Voted" stickers at its locations.
- Dunkin': Customers who presented an "I Voted" sticker at participating locations received a free medium coffee.
- Wendy's: The fast-food chain offered a free coffee with any breakfast purchase through the Wendy's app.
Fast Food and Casual Dining
- Taco Bell: Customers could receive a free taco with any purchase.
- Johnny Rockets: Patrons who mentioned the "Free Shake" offer at the register received a free non-vegan milkshake with any in-store purchase. It was noted that this offer did not include Craig's Vegan Shakes.
- Shake Shack: Customers who showed an "I Voted" sticker received free fries with any purchase.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: A free wings offer was available with any $10 purchase on Election Day.
- 99 Restaurants: This chain offered a free kids' meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.
- Chipotle: The company offered $4 burritos through its app.
- MOD Pizza: A buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) deal on pizzas was available.
- California Pizza Kitchen: This chain also offered a BOGO pizza deal for Election Day.
- Boston Market: A BOGO deal on individual meals was available.
- Flat Top Grill: The restaurant chain offered 20% off the in-store tab (excluding alcohol) for customers who presented an "I Voted" sticker.
- Fazoli's: This Italian restaurant chain offered $2 off in-store purchases of specific pasta dishes: chicken parmigiano, loaded baked spaghetti, and spicy baked ziti with Italian sausage.
Snacks and Desserts
- Auntie Anne's: A free pretzel was available when ordering through the Auntie Anne's app.
- Insomnia Cookies: Customers could receive a free cookie with an "I Voted" sticker.
- Junior's Restaurant & Cheesecake: The eatery offered half off cheesecake slices with any entrée. Additionally, it provided $5 off whole cakes in-restaurant and $7 off all cakes online through the following Thursday.
- Yogurtland: Visitors with an "I Voted" sticker received a 15% discount.
Other Food and Beverage Deals
- Smoothie King: App users received $1 off any smoothie.
- Red Lobster: Customers could save $10 off any $40 order.
- Blaze Pizza: A free upgrade to a large pizza was available when ordering in-store.
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Showing an "I Voted" sticker saved customers $3 off any sandwich.
- Dave & Buster's: The chain offered $5 beers on Election Day.
Rideshare and Transportation Discounts
To assist voters in getting to their polling places, several transportation companies offered discounted rides.
- Lyft: Riders received 50% off a ride to the polls (up to $10) using a promo code. This offer also applied to bikeshare and scooter rides in select cities.
- Uber: The app offered 50% off rides to polling places (up to $10). This was accessed by clicking through the 'Go Vote' tile in the app. It was noted that this offer was not available in California or Georgia.
- Uber Eats: In addition to ride discounts, Uber offered 25% off all election night Uber Eats orders of $25 or more (up to a $15 discount). This offer was available from 6:00 PM local time on November 5 through 7:00 AM local time on November 6.
- Lime: Voters could take a free Lime scooter or bike ride to the polls by entering the code VOTE2024 at checkout. This offer was valid through Election Day.
Retail and Entertainment Offers
Beyond food and transportation, other businesses provided promotions for Election Day.
- IKEA: Bistros at IKEA stores offered a free frozen yogurt to shoppers. While a proof of voting was not required, recipients had to present a printed or electronic version of a coupon.
- Planet Fitness: The gym chain offered free access to its facilities on Election Day.
- Hertz: The car rental company offered one free day when renting a vehicle for at least two days.
- Lazy Dog Restaurants: Diners with an "I Voted" sticker received a free non-alcoholic drink with an entrée purchase.
- Starbucks: New Starbucks Rewards members received a $5 gift card for Election Day coffee.
- Jersey Mike's Subs: App users received $2 off any sub.
Eligibility and Redemption Processes
The requirements for receiving Election Day freebies and deals varied by company. It was critical for consumers to understand the specific rules for each offer.
Proof of Voting
Many promotions were contingent on presenting an "I Voted" sticker. This was the primary method for brands like Dunkin', Shake Shack, Insomnia Cookies, Flat Top Grill, Lazy Dog Restaurants, Potbelly, and Yogurtland to verify participation. Johnny Rockets required customers to mention the specific offer at the register.
App-Based and Digital Requirements
Several offers were exclusively available through brand applications or digital platforms: * Auntie Anne's: Required ordering through the Auntie Anne's app. * Chipotle: The $4 burrito offer was available through the Chipotle app. * Smoothie King: The $1 discount was for app users. * Wendy's: The free coffee was tied to the Wendy's app. * Jersey Mike's: The $2 discount was for app users. * Starbucks: The $5 gift card was for new Rewards members.
Purchase Requirements
Some freebies were contingent on a purchase: * Johnny Rockets, Shake Shack, Buffalo Wild Wings, MOD Pizza (BOGO), California Pizza Kitchen (BOGO), Boston Market (BOGO), Chipotle, Red Lobster, and Junior's all required some form of purchase to redeem their offers. * Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' (for the free coffee) were notable exceptions where no purchase was necessary for the free item.
Geographic and System Limitations
- Uber: The 50% off ride discount was explicitly not available in California or Georgia.
- Lyft: The discount applied to rides in select cities for bikeshare and scooters.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
The legality of Election Day promotions is a nuanced topic. Federal election law prohibits providing incentives, such as cash or gifts, to individuals for voting. However, the offers detailed in the source material operate in a legal gray area or are structured to comply with the law.
- Open-to-All Promotions: Many offers, such as Krispy Kreme's free doughnut, are available to anyone who visits the store on Election Day, regardless of whether they vote. This structure makes the promotion legal, as it is not a direct reward for casting a ballot.
- Sticker-Based Offers: Promotions requiring an "I Voted" sticker exist in a more ambiguous area. While technically considered an incentive to vote, these laws have historically not been enforced against companies for providing small items like free coffee or donuts.
- Controversial Giveaways: The source material distinguishes these brand promotions from more controversial giveaways, such as the $1 million daily sweepstakes offered by Elon Musk to registered voters who signed a petition. This type of direct payment to registered voters is considered by many experts to be illegal.
Conclusion
Election Day 2024 featured a diverse array of freebies and deals from major brands across the food, beverage, transportation, and retail sectors. These promotions served as a way for companies to engage with consumers and acknowledge civic participation. The most common offers included free donuts, coffee, and discounted rides to polling locations. Redemption for these deals typically involved presenting an "I Voted" sticker, using a company app, or making a purchase. Consumers should be aware of the specific terms and conditions, including geographic limitations and purchase requirements, for each offer. While these promotions are generally considered legal marketing tactics, they differ significantly from direct payments for voting, which are prohibited under federal law.