Voting and Elections Guide - Get Registered and Vote!: "I Voted" Sticker Contests
This Voter Information Guide contains non-partisan resources to help you get registered to vote and get educated about the issues on your ballot.
Overview
Americans are voting throughout the country this election season, with many coveting their state and local "I Voted" stickers, displayed proudly for friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to see and to remind eligible citizens to take part in voting. Many jurisdictions have extended voting beyond elective offices and propositions, allowing anyone with an internet connection to vote in sticker contests. Here are a few notable recent "I Voted" sticker elections; please send me others at dgensch [at] stanford [dot] edu.
- The New York Times Quiz on "I Voted" StickersDo you know some of the famous, and not-so-famous, stickers and emblems around the country? Test your knowledge with the official NYT quiz!
- AARP Profile of the Woman Behind the First 'I Voted' StickerJanet Boudreau of Seattle, WA was president and owner of Intab, an election supply company, in 1987 when she designed the company's best-seller -- the flag "I Voted" sticker in English and Spanish.
California
- City and County of San Francisco, 2023
Here are the contestants and winner of SF's 2023 contest. - City of San Mateo, 2024Four winners, between the ages of 8 and 16, were selected as part of the "Generation Voter" initiative, to engage younger generations in democracy.
Iowa
- Johnson County, undated
Winners were chosen for youth and adult divisions, and both are colorful, Iowa-themed selections.
Kentucky
- Statewide, 2024The winning design was chosen from 9 entries by elementary, middle, and high school students.
Michigan
- Statewide, 2024The Michigan Secretary of State picked 9 winners from schools and the community, which local officials could order for their jurisdiction.
- Washington Post story on "unhinged werewolf" stickerA full month before Election Day, the Washington Post declared this sticker the big winner for this election season.
New York
- Ulster County, 2024"I Voted Stickers are a popular way of showing your civic pride and reminding your neighbors to vote!" This county has made it an annual tradition, and 2024 is its fourth contest.
- Boing Boing (blog) post on 2022 Ulster County contestSee this unique design of a six-legged creature with a zombie-fied head, which went viral.
Texas
- Williamson County, 2024Sixth grader Andi Abbott, the winner, declared, “In conclusion, y’all go vote!”