Election Day in the United States has become a notable date for consumer promotions, with numerous national brands and local businesses offering free products, discounts, and special deals. These offers vary widely, from complimentary food and beverages to discounted transportation services. While some promotions require customers to present an "I Voted" sticker or other proof of participation, many are available to all customers regardless of voting status, reflecting a broader sentiment of appreciation for the event. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the types of freebies and deals typically available on Election Day, based on information from reliable sources.
Food and Beverage Promotions
A significant portion of Election Day freebies centers on food and beverage offerings. Several major chains have historically provided complimentary items or discounts to customers.
Krispy Kreme has consistently offered a popular Election Day promotion. The brand provides a free Original Glazed doughnut to all guests at participating U.S. shops. The company also distributes "I Voted" stickers while supplies last. According to a brand officer, the promotion is intended to celebrate participation in democracy. Notably, recipients are not required to prove they have cast a ballot to receive the free doughnut.
Yogurtland is also serving up something sweet on Election Day. Participating locations of the frozen yogurt chain are offering a 15 percent discount to in-store customers who show their ‘I Voted’ sticker on November 5. Yogurtland has more than 200 locations across the country.
IKEA offers a free frozen yogurt at participating locations on Election Day. Customers are required to present a coupon to redeem this offer.
Fazoli’s is offering $2 off a signature bake menu item. These options include baked chicken Parmigiano, loaded baked spaghetti, and spicy baked ziti with Italian sausage. This promotion is in-store only and at participating locations.
Johnny Rocket’s customers who show an "I Voted" sticker on Election Day can get a free shake with any in-store purchase at participating Johnny Rockets locations.
Round Table Pizza is offering $6 off a large or extra-large pizza for dine-in, carry-out, or delivery at participating locations on Election Day.
Kids ate free at 99 Restaurants. All day long, you could get a free kids’ meal at 99 Restaurants with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Free playtime is available at Chuck E. Cheese.
The Enlightened brand offered a coupon for free ice cream to anyone who mentioned the word "vote" and tagged @eatenlightened on Instagram stories on Election Day. This offer was available while supplies lasted, and one participant was randomly selected to win a year of free Enlightened desserts.
Biggby Coffee chain offered a buy-one-get-one free deal or a $1 discount on any drink up to 24 ounces at participating locations.
Wawa initiated a "Free Coffee Tuesdays" program starting on Election Day. Wawa Rewards members could receive a free self-serve hot beverage up to 24 ounces. New members needed to register by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be eligible for the initial offer. This promotion was scheduled to continue every Tuesday through November and December.
Tim Hortons Rewards members could receive one free dark roast coffee between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Transportation and Ride-Share Offers
Several companies offered discounted transportation to help voters reach their polling places.
Uber provided a 50% discount for riders going to their polling place (up to $10). The app also helped users find the nearest polling place. This offer was not available in California or Georgia. Uber Eats offered 25% off orders up to $15, with a $25 minimum. The offer was available from 6 p.m. local time on November 5 to 7 a.m. local time on November 6.
Lyft offered a 50% discount (up to $10) on Election Day for riders going to the polls. Users could preload the ride code VOTE24 on or before November 5. This offer also applied to bike and scooter rides in select cities.
Lime, the e-bike and e-scooter company, offered a free 30-minute ride to and from polling places from October 29 through November 5 by using the code VOTE2024.
Retail and Grocery Deals
Beyond food and transportation, some retail and grocery chains offered promotions on Election Day.
Smart & Final grocery store chain offered a 10 percent discount on an entire purchase with a coupon posted on social media through Election Day. Some exclusions applied, and there was a maximum discount of $50.
Natural Grocers offered a post-election deal for its loyalty program members. This offer was valid once per day from Election Day through November 9. The pastry items included in the promotion were apple fritters, blueberry muffins, and cinnamon rolls.
Poll Worker-Specific Offers
Recognising the essential role of poll workers, several companies offered exclusive freebies and discounts to individuals working at polling locations.
CAVA and Zoës Kitchen provided a free meal on Election Day to poll workers who presented a valid badge in person.
Chopt Creative Salad Co. offered a free meal to badged poll workers on Election Day.
Shake Shack offered a free sandwich, including the Shackburger and the Chick’n Shack, to poll workers from Sunday through Election Day. This offer required proof of a poll worker badge and was only valid for in-person ordering.
Digital and Delivery Discounts
Food delivery platforms also participated with special offers for Election Day.
DoorDash provided a 10 percent discount on orders for DashPass subscribers, who typically receive zero delivery fees on orders over $12. The discount was available with the code DPVOTE.
Grubhub featured more than 30 discounts in the Perks tab of its app and the Seamless app. These discounts included offers for brands such as 7-Eleven, Burger King, and California Pizza Kitchen.