Election Day Freebies Food Drinks And Deals To Reward Voters

Introduction

Election Day in the United States has become synonymous not only with civic participation but also with an array of freebies and promotional offers from businesses across various industries. Many brands use this occasion to reward voters with complimentary food items, discounts, and special promotions. These offers range from free donuts and coffee to discounted rides to polling places. However, these promotions exist within a legal framework that prohibits offering specific incentives in exchange for votes, leading many businesses to structure their offers as available to all rather than exclusively to voters. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the freebies, deals, and discounts available around Election Day, including food and beverage promotions, transportation options, shopping discounts, and the legal considerations that shape these offers.

Food and Drink Freebies

National restaurant chains and local establishments alike commonly offer Election Day specials to encourage voting and reward civic participation. These promotions typically include complimentary food items, special discounts, or buy-one-get-one-free deals. Many businesses require proof of voting, such as an "I Voted" sticker or ballot stub, while others make their offers available to all customers to comply with election laws.

National Chain Offers

Several well-known national chains have established Election Day traditions of offering free items or discounts:

• Krispy Kreme provides glazed doughnuts to all customers along with a special voting sticker while supplies last on Election Day.
• Planet Fitness offers free workouts and massages from Election Day through November 8, allowing voters to work off election-related stress.
• McDonald's has historically offered freebies on Election Day, though specific items vary by year.
• Shake Shack provides free sandwiches, including the Shackburger and Chick'n Shack, to poll workers who present their badge for in-shack ordering from Sunday through Election Day.
• Boston Market offers one free slider from 9 p.m. to close on Election Day at all locations nationwide, with no purchase necessary.
• Tim Hortons provides Tims Rewards members with one free dark roast coffee between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. EST through November 8.
• Biggby Coffee offers buy-one-get-one-free or $1 off any drink up to 24 ounces at participating locations.
• Wawa initiates "Free Coffee Tuesdays" on Election Day, continuing every Tuesday in November and December for Wawa Rewards members. New members must register by 8 p.m. on Election Day to qualify, with the free drink limited to self-serve hot beverages up to 24 ounces.

Regional Restaurant Deals

Many regional and local restaurants also participate in Election Day promotions, though availability varies by location:

• In Virginia specifically, several eateries offer freebies or discounts to patrons showing "I Voted" stickers or ballot stubs, including free burgers, shakes, sandwiches, and pizza.
• Carl's Jr. provides a free Western Bacon Cheeseburger, Famous Star, or Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich to those who join their rewards program and spend a minimum of $1.
• The Cheesecake Factory has offered special deals that could be utilized until November 10 in some areas.
• Vitality Bowls offers 20% off all açaí bowls with "proof of voting" at participating locations on Election Day.
• White Castle provides $4 off orders of $20 or more (or $5 off orders of $30 or more in New Jersey and New York) through Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Postmates on Election Day.
• Chopt Creative Salad Co., CAVA, and Zoës Kitchen each offer free meals to poll workers who present their badge in-person on Election Day.
• Bobo's provides 2,000 coupons for free oat bars on Election Day to those who voted. Registration is required at www.eatbobos.com/vote to receive a coupon by mail, though sharing a photo of an "I Voted" sticker is optional.

Special Food Brand Promotions

Beyond restaurants, various food brands offer Election Day specials:

• Enlightened offers a coupon for free ice cream to anyone who mentions the word "vote" and tags @eatenlightened on Instagram stories on Election Day.
• Some establishments offer special breakfast deals, such as Sausage or Bacon, Egg and Swiss Croissant, and small seasoned potatoes for $3.

Transportation Options

Recognizing that transportation can be a barrier to voting, several companies offer free rides to polling places, particularly during early voting periods and on Election Day itself.

Free Rides to Polls

• Lime, a scooter and bike-sharing company, offers free rides to vote early starting on Vote Early Day (October 28) and running through Election Day (November 4). Users can access two free 30-minute rides using the code VOTE2025 on Lime scooters and e-bikes.
• DoorDash, the on-demand delivery app, provides free delivery on all orders with a $15 minimum placed on Election Day with promo code VOTE. For DashPass subscribers who already have zero delivery fees on orders over $12, DoorDash offers 10% off orders with code DPVOTE, which should be entered at checkout.

Employer-Provided Transportation

Some employers provide transportation options to help employees vote, though specific programs vary by company and location. These typically involve shuttles or ride services provided to polling places during voting hours.

Shopping Discounts

Beyond food and transportation, various retailers and service providers offer Election Day discounts and promotions:

• Smart & Final, the grocery store chain, offers 10% off the entire purchase with a coupon posted on social media through Election Day. Some exclusions apply, with a maximum discount of $50.
• White Castle closes all locations from 7 to 11 a.m. on Election Day to allow employees time to vote, while also offering delivery discounts through various platforms.
• Some retailers offer shorter hours on Election Day, including Best Buy, White Castle, and Adidas, while others like J Crew and Ben & Jerry's may be closed entirely.

Legal Considerations

The legality of offering incentives related to voting is a complex issue that businesses must navigate carefully when designing Election Day promotions.

Federal Election Laws

According to federal law, it is technically illegal to offer freebies specifically in exchange for votes. To comply with these regulations, businesses typically structure their offers in one of two ways:

1. Making the deals available to all customers, regardless of whether they voted
2. Offering the promotions without explicitly conditioning them on having voted

Many businesses choose the first approach to avoid any appearance of electioneering or vote buying. This is particularly relevant as more people vote by mail or during early voting periods, potentially reducing the number of voters who have physical "I Voted" stickers to show.

Legal Opinions and Industry Practices

Legal experts suggest that offering discounts or free items to all customers on Election Day is generally legal, while offers specifically conditioned on proof of voting may be more problematic. Some business owners have found that the legal scrutiny around election-related promotions has actually increased awareness of their establishments beyond what the promotions themselves could achieve.

The Pizza to the Polls organization, which has delivered pizza to polling places in previous elections, argues that providing food to people who have already decided to vote is legal, comparing it to employers giving time off for voting or people offering rides to the polls. As of early November, the organization had received over $60,000 in donations and ordered 2,839 pizzas for prior elections, with $7,730 remaining available for the upcoming midterms.

How Businesses Structure Offers

To remain compliant with election laws, many businesses:

• Avoid explicitly conditioning offers on proof of voting
• Make promotions available to all customers
• Focus on general Election Day themes rather than specific voting requirements
• Use language that emphasizes civic participation rather than transactional exchanges

For example, some restaurants that initially planned to offer discounts exclusively to voters modified their approach to make the offers available to all customers to ensure compliance with election laws.

Tips for Maximizing Election Day Deals

To take full advantage of Election Day freebies and deals, voters should consider the following:

1. Verify Local Participation: Before heading out, confirm that local outlets are participating in the offers, as participation can vary by location.
2. Bring Necessary Documentation: When offers require proof of voting, bring an "I Voted" sticker or ballot stub to redeem promotions.
3. Check Operating Hours: Some retailers may have reduced hours or be closed entirely on Election Day, so it's wise to check in advance.
4. Register for Rewards Programs: Some offers require membership in rewards programs, so sign up beforehand if possible.
5. Review Offer Details: Pay attention to purchase minimums, time restrictions, and other conditions that may apply to promotions.
6. Take Advantage of Multiple Offers: Voters may be able to combine offers from different businesses on the same day.
7. Use Promotional Codes: For delivery services and online orders, have the appropriate promo codes ready at checkout.
8. Plan Transportation: Utilize free ride services to polling places when available.

Conclusion

Election Day has evolved into an occasion for businesses to reward civic participation through an array of freebies, discounts, and special offers. From complimentary food and beverages to free transportation and shopping deals, these promotions provide voters with tangible benefits for exercising their democratic rights. While businesses must carefully navigate legal considerations to avoid offering improper incentives, the range of available options continues to expand each election cycle. For voters, these offers provide additional motivation to participate in the electoral process while enjoying savings and free products. As always, voters should verify specific offers with participating locations and review any terms and conditions that may apply. Regardless of the freebies available, the most valuable reward of Election Day is the ability to participate in shaping the future through voting.

Sources

1. Election Day deals: Get a free Krispy Kreme donut, Planet Fitness workout plus a McDonald's freebie Tuesday
2. Free Things On VA Election Day: Restaurant Steals & Deals 2022
3. Free rides to vote early
4. Offering food and drink deals on Election Day? It may not be legal