C-store chain to give free meals to store employees on Election Day

Kum & Go is giving its employees time off to vote on Election Day.

The Des Moines-based convenience store operator announced two hours of paid voting time and free in-store meals for all store employees on Nov. 3. Kum & Go is also sharing voter registration information with employees and encouraging everyone to learn their registration status at Vote.org.

Additionally, the chain has joined Time to Vote, a business-led, nonpartisan coalition that has the goal of increasing voter participation in U.S. elections. It also signed a pledge with Civic Alliance, another nonpartisan group of businesses that seeks to achieve 80% voter turnout by 2028.

"At Kum & Go, we believe working should never be a barrier to civic engagement," said Tanner Krause, president of Kum & Go. "By providing paid time for associates to go to the polls, and affirming that support through both Time to Vote and Civic Alliance, we are proud to stand by this important non-partisan effort to bring out the vote."

Kum & Go operates 400 stores in 11 states: Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.