'I Voted' stickers have long been a staple of American voting culture. They are widely available, often in a variety of colors, and they are an easy way to show your fellow Americans that you voted on Election Day. While some jurisdictions have eliminated their use, the stickers remain a standard part of the American voting experience.
Voting is considered a civic duty, and I voted stickers are meant to motivate people to vote. Studies have shown that they have a small effect on voter turnout. While they may not have a huge impact, they are an easy reminder that voting is important.
The origins of the "I voted" sticker are unclear, but it has been around since the post-World War II era. Many states have shifted from the original oval-shaped "I voted" sticker to a more modern design. These stickers are distributed to voters at the polls on Election Day and sometimes during early voting. They are typically red and blue with an American flag color scheme. Some jurisdictions also include a sticker on an absentee ballot.
In New York, the Ulster County Board of Elections sponsors an annual sticker contest. They choose a winning sticker to be distributed to voters on Election Day. Hudson Rowan won this year's contest with his design, which is a spider-demon. The design has become a viral fad and sparked renewed interest in voter participation.
The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) has sponsored the NYC Votes initiative, which distributes 6 million "I voted" stickers to state and city board of election officials free of charge. In addition to the giveaways, the NYC Votes website is a great resource for people who are interested in voting. The NYC Votes site includes a virtual 'I voted' sticker, which is useful for those who do not live in the area and cannot make it to the polls on Election Day.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are choosing to cast their vote by mail. In some counties, voters are getting wristbands instead of stickers. Despite this, the Chicago Board of Elections is switching to stickers for this year's pandemic vote. They're planning to distribute stickers to all voters in 2022 and 2023. It's a better option than having a wristband for everyone, they say.
The Phoenix Board of Realtors started giving out "I Voted Today" stickers in 1985. They opted to do so because they were in favor of expanding the freeway system. The sticker has since been replicated by other organizations and agencies. Some jurisdictions are dropping the stickers altogether because they feel they are a waste of taxpayer dollars. In fact, the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters recently saved $90,750 by not including them in their mail-in ballots. Get info here on why it is important to get the best election supplies.
The Miami Herald has reported that some counties in Florida have distributed "I voted" stickers at the polls in the 1950s. However, some counties have eliminated their use because of social distancing or cost. Others have adopted a new design, such as Washoe County. To familiarize yourself more with this topic, it is best that you check out this post: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system.
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