How companies are looking to cash in on Election Day

Getty Images; iStock; Natalie Ammari/BI

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From the polls to the bars. For many Americans, election night is a chance to blow off steam after an intense few months of campaigning that included a last-minute candidate switch and two assassination attempts.

Business Insider’s Juliana Kaplan has a story on how businesses are leaning into the election season finale with events and promos.

As polarizing as this year has been, many businesses are taking a bipartisan approach. Whether it’s weed strains or cocktails — Kamala Kush and the MAGA-rita — restaurants and retailers are happy to cater to both sides. (After all, for most of them, green is the only color that matters.)

The homebodies are also set to make their economic mark on election night. In 2020, one food delivery company showed sales increased 20% on election night compared to the Tuesday prior.

One tech giant is also using the election to expand on its media ambitions: Amazon.

Veteran anchor Brian Williams is leading an election-night special on Prime Video. The one-off program will include more than a dozen contributors, such as James Carville and Shepard Smith. BI’s Lucia Moses spoke to Williams’ longtime producer, Jonathan Wald, about the show.

The election isn’t a boon for all businesses.

This time of year comes with plenty of anxiety. Almost 70% of US adults reported the election being a “significant” source of stress, according to an August survey from the American Psychological Association.

That could result in workers having a tough time focusing today and impacting their productivity, writes BI’s Tim Paradis. A survey last month of US managers from ResumeBuilder.com found 38% felt the election had already hurt morale and productivity.

For many, the concerns aren’t just about the election outcome. They’re about the reaction to the results. With tensions high, the country is bracing for civil unrest after the election, writes BI’s Katie Balevic.

One data analytics and risk management company ranks the US among the five most high-risk countries for civil unrest. (The other four were Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and South Africa.)

Further heightening things is the likelihood of a legal fight over the election. The 2024 presidential race is already the most litigated in history, with more than 200 pending preelection lawsuits across 40 states, writes BI’s Natalie Musumeci.

Here’s what to watch for as the day unfolds.

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London.