The 2024 U.S. Election Day on November 5th saw a wide array of companies and brands offering special promotions, freebies, and discounts to celebrate civic participation. These offers, ranging from complimentary food and beverages to discounted transportation and services, were designed to reward voters and facilitate access to the polls. This article details the specific deals available, their eligibility requirements, and the terms of participation based on verified information from promotional announcements and official statements. The focus is on providing U.S. consumers with a clear, factual overview of the opportunities available on and around Election Day.
The offers were generally available nationwide, though some were subject to participation by individual locations. Common requirements included showing an "I Voted" sticker, making a purchase, or using a specific promo code in an app. The deals spanned multiple categories, including food and beverage, transportation, and entertainment, reflecting a broad corporate effort to engage with the electorate.
Food and Beverage Freebies and Discounts
A significant portion of Election Day promotions centered on food and drink, with several major chains offering free items or substantial discounts. These offers were often tied to the simple act of showing proof of voting, typically an "I Voted" sticker.
Krispy Kreme offered a free Original Glazed doughnut at participating U.S. shops on Election Day, November 5, while supplies lasted. The company also distributed "I Voted" stickers at participating locations. No purchase was necessary to receive the free doughnut.
Dunkin' provided a free medium coffee to customers who showed an "I Voted" sticker, aiming to help voters jumpstart their day. This offer was available at participating locations.
Johnny Rockets offered a free shake with any in-store purchase on Election Day for customers who showed proof they voted, such as an "I Voted" sticker. The offer was valid at participating locations but excluded Craig’s Vegan Shakes.
Auntie Anne’s gave away a free pretzel when customers ordered through the Auntie Anne’s app. This was a digital offer available via the brand’s mobile application.
Shake Shack provided free fries with any purchase for customers who showed an "I Voted" sticker. The offer was available at participating locations.
Insomnia Cookies offered a free cookie with an "I Voted" sticker, providing a sweet treat for voters.
Taco Bell gave a free taco with any purchase, allowing customers to celebrate with a familiar menu item.
Chipotle offered a $4 burrito through the Chipotle app, a discounted price for app users.
California Pizza Kitchen had a buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) pizza deal for an Election Day meal.
Red Lobster offered $10 off any $40 order, providing a discount for a seafood feast.
Blaze Pizza provided a free upgrade to a large pizza when ordering in-store.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop gave a $3 discount off any sandwich for customers who showed an "I Voted" sticker.
Wendy’s offered a free coffee with any breakfast purchase on the Wendy’s app.
Buffalo Wild Wings provided free wings with any $10 purchase on Election Day.
MOD Pizza had a buy-one-get-one-free pizza deal for post-voting dinner.
Smoothie King offered $1 off any smoothie for app users.
Dave & Buster’s had several specials, including a $19.99 Eat, Drink, Play Combo Meal (choice of entrée, fountain drink, and a $10 power card), $5 beers all day with 22-ounce drafts, and $5 Late Night Bites from 10 p.m. onwards on Sundays to Thursdays.
Boston Market offered buy-one-get-one-free on individual meals.
Jersey Mike’s gave app users $2 off any sub.
Nine Nine Restaurant & Pub provided a free kids’ meal all day with the purchase of an adult entrée.
O'Charley’s Restaurant & Bar offered a Classic Cheeseburger with double smash patties and fries for $6 from November 3 to November 7.
Round Table Pizza offered $6 off a larger or extra-large pizza on Election Day for dine-in, carry-out, and delivery at participating locations.
Lazy Dog Restaurants gave customers who showed an "I Voted" sticker a free handcrafted nonalcoholic beverage (such as Lemonade, Cucumber Lemon Sparkling Refresher, or Twisted Orange Fanta with Vanilla Bean Cream) with any entrée purchase.
Grubhub+ had several specials as part of its Gold Days of Grubhub+ celebration, running from November 1 to November 10. These included 25% off all Election Night Uber Eats orders of $25 or more (up to a $15 discount), valid from 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday until 7 a.m. the following day.
Transportation and Travel Offers
To help voters access polling places, several transportation companies offered discounted or free rides.
Lyft provided a 50% discount (up to $10) on rides to the polls on Election Day. Users could preload the ride code VOTE24 on or before November 5. The code was valid from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time and could be used on rideshare, bikeshare, or scooter rides.
Uber offered 50% off rides to the polls (up to $10) in the U.S. by clicking through the ‘Go Vote’ tile in the app to book a ride. This offer was not available in California or Georgia.
Lime, an e-scooter company, provided free 30-minute rides to the polls for voters until November 5 using the code VOTE2024.
Hertz offered one free rental day, including Election Day, when renting a car for at least two days, for those who needed a vehicle to get to their polling place.
Other Services and Retail Discounts
Beyond food and transportation, other businesses offered discounts and free access.
Planet Fitness offered free access to its gyms on Election Day, allowing members and non-members to stay active.
Ikea provided a free frozen yogurt at participating Swedish bistros to celebrate voting rights. Customers needed to get a coupon on the Ikea website, and no purchase was necessary.
Flat Top Grill, Genghis Grill, Hot Chicken Takeover, Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, and The Budlong Southern Chicken all offered 20% off an order for customers who showed an "I Voted" sticker. These offers were in-store only and excluded alcohol.
Starbucks offered a $5 gift card for Election Day coffee to new Rewards members.
Eligibility and Participation
Most of the offers required specific actions from the consumer. The most common requirement was showing an "I Voted" sticker, which served as proof of voting. This was the case for freebies from Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’, Johnny Rockets, Shake Shack, Insomnia Cookies, Potbelly, Lazy Dog Restaurants, and the 20% off discounts at various grills and kitchens.
Other offers were tied to digital engagement, such as using a brand’s mobile app (Auntie Anne’s, Chipotle, Wendy’s, Jersey Mike’s) or a specific promo code (Lyft, Lime, Uber, Uber Eats). Some deals, like those from Dave & Buster’s, Boston Market, and MOD Pizza, were standard promotions available to all customers on Election Day without a specific voting proof requirement.
Geographic restrictions were noted for some offers. The Uber discount was not available in California or Georgia. All other offers described were nationwide, but participation depended on individual store or location. Consumers were advised to check with their local establishments for availability.
The offers were generally available only on Election Day, November 5, 2024, though some, like Grubhub’s deals, spanned a longer period from November 1 to November 10. The Hertz rental deal required a rental period that included Election Day. The Lime scooter offer was valid until November 5. The O'Charley’s deal ran from November 3 to November 7.
Conclusion
The 2024 Election Day featured a diverse set of freebies and discounts from a wide range of national brands, primarily in the food, beverage, and transportation sectors. These promotions were largely accessible to voters who could show an "I Voted" sticker or use a specific app or promo code. While most offers were available nationwide, participation was subject to individual location policies. The deals aimed to make Election Day more rewarding and to facilitate voter access to the polls. Consumers interested in similar offers for future elections should monitor official brand announcements and reputable deal websites as Election Day approaches.