Election Day 2020 Free Food Guide Mcdonalds Pastry Deals And Other Restaurant Offers

The 2020 Election Day saw numerous businesses offering freebies and special deals to encourage civic participation and provide comfort during what was expected to be a stressful day for many Americans. Among these offers, McDonald's stood out with a week-long promotion providing free pastries with the purchase of coffee, accessible through their mobile application. This comprehensive guide details the McDonald's Election Day promotion and other notable food and beverage deals available to voters and non-voters alike during the 2020 Election Day period.

McDonald's Election Day Pastry Promotion

McDonald's implemented one of the most substantial and lengthy Election Day promotions among restaurant chains in 2020. The fast-food giant offered customers a complimentary pastry item with the purchase of any hot or iced coffee through its mobile application. This promotion ran continuously from Election Day, November 3, through November 9, 2020, providing an extended period for customers to take advantage of the offer.

The free pastry options included three new McCafe items: apple fritters, blueberry muffins, and cinnamon rolls. Customers could select one of these items each day they made a qualifying purchase, with the offer limited to one redemption per day. To access this promotion, individuals needed to have the McDonald's mobile application installed on their smartphone and place their order through the app, selecting both a coffee and one of the eligible pastry items.

The promotion was part of McDonald's broader McCafe lineup expansion, highlighting the chain's efforts to compete in the premium coffee and pastry market. By tying the offer to Election Day and extending it for a full week following the election, McDonald's demonstrated both its civic engagement and marketing strategy during a pivotal national moment.

Other Quick Service Restaurant Election Day Offers

Beyond McDonald's, numerous other quick service restaurant chains offered Election Day promotions in 2020. These deals ranged from complimentary food items to significant discounts on popular menu options.

Wendy's implemented a straightforward promotion offering a free Classic Chicken Sandwich with any purchase, available both in-person and through the Wendy's mobile application. This offer extended beyond Election Day, running through November 8, 2020, providing customers with several days to take advantage of the deal.

Subway targeted loyalty program members with a buy-one-get-one-free offer on any footlong sub, available through the Wednesday following Election Day. This promotion was accessible to Subway MyWay Rewards members, requiring customers to have registered for the loyalty program to qualify for the deal.

Boston Market provided a unique timing-focused promotion, offering one free slider at all locations nationwide on Election Day from 9 p.m. until closing. The company specifically noted that Election Day events could extend into the evening, and people might get hungry during these extended hours, hence the evening-specific promotion.

Coffee and Donut Shop Election Day Specials

Several coffee and donut shop chains participated in Election Day promotions, with many tying offers to the act of voting or providing comfort during the stressful election period.

Krispy Kreme offered a simple and iconic Election Day promotion: a free Original Glazed Doughnut for customers who showed their "I Voted" sticker. The promotion was available while supplies lasted on Election Day only, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity. Notably, one source mentioned that the offer was available "even if you didn't vote! But you should totally still vote," suggesting that the company may have been flexible with enforcement of the voting requirement.

Dunkin' Donuts shifted its focus to the day following Election Day, offering free medium hot or iced coffee to DD Perks loyalty program members on Free Coffee Wednesdays, starting November 4 and continuing through December 23 at participating locations. New members needed to register by 8 p.m. on Election Day to qualify for this ongoing promotion.

Wawa implemented a similar long-term promotion, offering "Free Coffee Tuesdays" starting on Election Day and continuing through the end of December for Wawa Rewards members. New members needed to register by 8 p.m. on Election Day to access this extended offer.

Biggby Coffee provided customers with two options for Election Day deals: a buy-one-get-one-free offer on any drink or $1 off any drink up to 24 ounces. This flexibility allowed customers to choose the option that provided the greatest value based on their purchase.

Delivery App Promotions and Discounts

Several delivery platforms and food delivery services offered Election Day promotions to make voting more convenient and rewarding.

Grubhub provided multiple promotions through its platform. The company offered free delivery on all orders with a $15 minimum when customers used the promo code "VOTE" at checkout. Additionally, DashPass subscribers received 10% off orders with the code "DPVOTE" at checkout. Beyond these general promotions, Grubhub hosted deals specific to restaurant chains, including:

• White Castle: $4 off orders of $20 or more (or $5 off orders of $30 or more in New Jersey and New York)
• Jersey Mike's: Free turkey sub and free delivery on orders of $10 or more
• Burger King: $3 off orders of $18 or more
• Pret-a-Manger: $5 off orders of $15 or more

DoorDash waivered delivery fees on orders of $15 and up when customers used the code "VOTE" at checkout, making it more affordable for individuals to have food delivered on Election Day.

Uber Eats and Postmates also participated in the Election Day promotion ecosystem, though specific details about their offers were limited in the source material. White Castle specifically mentioned these platforms as part of its promotion, indicating that customers could access the chain's discounts through these services.

Additional Restaurant Election Day Offers

Several other restaurant chains provided Election Day promotions in 2020, each with unique terms and conditions.

Chili's offered a beverage promotion, selling Presidente Margaritas for just $5 on Election Day, while supplies lasted of commemorative stickers. This deal provided an affordable option for voters looking to unwind after casting their ballots.

P.F. Chang's implemented a new customer promotion, offering $10 off for first-time diners through Grubhub, expanding its potential customer base during the Election Day period.

Jimmy John's provided a post-Election Day deal, offering 50% off a second sandwich when customers purchased an 8-inch or 16-inch sandwich online or through the app, with the promotion running until November 8.

Pret-a-Manger, while primarily known for its delivery app promotion, also offered in-store deals for Election Day customers, though specific details were not fully detailed in the source material.

Non-Food Election Day Offers

Beyond food and beverage promotions, several other businesses offered Election Day deals to encourage civic participation and provide comfort during the stressful election period.

Planet Fitness stood out among fitness centers, offering a free workout and massage from November 3 through November 8. This promotion acknowledged the stress associated with the election and provided voters with an opportunity to decompress through physical activity.

Transportation companies also played a significant role in Election Day promotions. Both Uber and Lyft offered discounted rides to polling stations, making it easier for individuals to access voting locations. Uber provided up to 50% off rides (up to $7 per ride, $14 round trip) both to and from polling locations, with customers using the promo code "2020VOTE" when booking. Lyft offered similar discounts, though specific details about the discount amount and promo code were not fully detailed in the source material.

Several food and snack brands implemented social media-based promotions requiring customers to submit proof of voting. BoBo's, an oat snacks brand, sent 2,000 free bars to anyone who voted and submitted a photo of their "I Voted" sticker. Similarly, CAULIPOWER, a frozen pizza brand, offered free coupons to customers who direct messaged them a photo of their "I Voted" sticker on Instagram.

Some restaurant offers were specifically targeted at poll workers. CAVA and Zoe's Kitchen locations offered free meals to badged poll workers on November 3, recognizing the additional effort and time commitment required of these individuals.

How to Access These Offers

Accessing Election Day 2020 freebies and deals required varying levels of preparation and knowledge. For restaurant-specific promotions like those at McDonald's, Wendy's, and Subway, customers typically needed to:

1. Be aware of the promotion (through advertising, social media, or word-of-mouth)
2. Meet any eligibility requirements (such as being a loyalty program member)
3. Visit a participating location or use the appropriate platform (app or website)
4. Follow the specific redemption instructions (such as using a promo code or showing proof of voting)

For app-based promotions like McDonald's and Wendy's, customers needed to have the respective mobile applications installed and create accounts if they didn't already have them. The McDonald's promotion specifically required ordering through the app to qualify for the free pastry with coffee purchase.

For delivery app promotions, customers needed to: 1. Have the relevant delivery app installed (Grubhub, DoorDash, etc.) 2. Meet the minimum order requirement 3. Apply the appropriate promo code at checkout 4. Ensure their delivery address was within the service area

For promotions requiring proof of voting, customers needed to: 1. Actually vote (in most cases) 2. Receive an "I Voted" sticker at their polling place 3. Take a photo of the sticker 4. Submit the photo through the specified method (direct message, email, etc.)

Transportation discounts required customers to: 1. Have the relevant ride-sharing app installed (Uber or Lyft) 2. Input the specific promo code when booking their ride 3. Travel to or from a polling location to qualify

For fitness-related promotions like Planet Fitness, customers typically needed to: 1. Visit a participating location 2. Present identification if required 3. Follow the specific instructions for redeeming the free workout and massage

Conclusion

The 2020 Election Day saw an unprecedented number of businesses offering freebies and special deals, with food and beverage promotions being particularly prevalent. McDonald's stood out with its week-long free pastry promotion, which extended beyond Election Day to provide comfort during the stressful post-election period. Other notable offers included complimentary sandwiches from Wendy's, free doughnuts from Krispy Kreme, and various discounts through delivery platforms.

These promotions served multiple purposes: encouraging civic participation, providing comfort during a stressful time, and generating goodwill for participating brands. While many offers were tied to voting, several were available to all customers, regardless of whether they participated in the electoral process.

For consumers, these deals provided an opportunity to save money or enjoy complimentary items while businesses benefited from increased foot traffic and positive brand association. The variety of offers across different industries—from food and beverage to fitness and transportation—demonstrated the broad cultural significance of Election Day 2020 and the desire for businesses to connect with consumers during this pivotal national moment.

As with any promotion, customers needed to be aware of the specific terms and conditions, including eligibility requirements, expiration dates, and redemption instructions. By understanding these details, consumers could maximize their benefits from the Election Day 2020 freebie ecosystem.

Sources

1. Where to get free food on Election Day 2020
2. Election Day freebies and discounts, including donuts, margaritas and free coffee
3. Voters can get freebies, deals on Election Day 2020
4. Election Day 2020 freebies: McDonald's, DoorDash, Uber, Planet Fitness, food, rides, deals for voters
5. Free food on Election Day: Wendy's, McDonald's, Grubhub
6. Eat your feelings this Election Day with these freebies and deals
7. Free food on Election Day