New York
CNN Business
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It’s Election Day in America, and some companies are offering offers and giveaways to mark the occasion, while others are giving employees time off to vote.
Election Day is not a public holiday, although it is a public holiday in some states, so some government offices may be closed. According to the Movement Advancement Project, an independent think tank, less than half of US states require employers to give workers paid time off to vote.
Here’s what you can expect from Corporate America on Election Day, including what you can get for free or at a discount on Tuesday.
Krispy Kreme is handing out free glazed donuts on Tuesday.
“A healthy and vibrant democracy depends on engaged citizens who vote,” David Skena, global brand director at Krispy Kreme, said in a statement. “We’re happy to celebrate voters and our democracy by giving everyone a free original glazed donut on Election Day.”
Krispy Kreme has made a habit of giving away its signature glazed donuts. Last year, the company offered free donuts to people vaccinated against Covid-19. By June 2021, he had distributed 1.5 million donuts.
Pizza to the Polls is a group that, well, delivers pizza to the polls.
The organization started in 2016, after seeing reports of long lines at early voting sites. We “sent out pizzas on delivery to feed the crowds,” according to the band’s website. “The response was immediate and overwhelming: it strengthened hungry voters in line, lifted the spirits of beleaguered poll workers and gave people a way to help their communities.”
Six years later, the band is still going strong. And this year it’s send food trucks to polling places in Philadelphia on polling day.
“With so many people becoming more politically involved and eager to vote this year, it’s critical that they are supported by a functioning civic engagement ecosystem,” said Amirah Noaman, executive director of Pizza to the Polls. “Feeding people and providing water allows people to vote and helps elections go smoothly, in addition to helping bring more joy and celebration to Election Day.”
Lyft is offering discounted rides on Election Day. Customers can use code VOTE22 to get 50%, or up to $10, off when they use a rideshare, bike share, or Lyft scooter on Tuesdays. The offer is valid as long as the polling stations are open.
“We believe that everyone’s voice – and vote – deserves to be heard, and transportation should never be a barrier,” the company said in a statement.
All voters have the chance to earn the coveted “I Voted” sticker, a badge of civic pride that gives them bragging rights for the rest of the day.
Across the country, some companies are giving workers the option to go to the polls on Election Day. More than 2,000 companies participate in Time to Vote, a nonpartisan group whose member companies offer voting information, give employees paid time off to vote, or ban meetings on Election Day.
A member of One Time to Vote, outdoor specialty retailer REI, will open its stores two hours later than usual to give employees time to vote.
“No one should have to choose between going to work and participating in the democratic process,” Ben Steele, chief client officer at REI Co-op, said in a statement.
But not all participating businesses are changing opening hours or closing their doors. To join Time to Vote, “your CEO or company management must be committed to ensuring your employees have the time they need to vote,” according to the group. “There is no ‘one size fits all’.”
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