I Voted Stickers

 

'I voted' stickers are an American institution that has been around since the post World War II era. These small, circular stickers remind people that it is time to vote. Depending on the jurisdiction, they may be used for local, state, or even national elections. The most popular uses are in announcing one's voting status.

 

"I voted" stickers are typically round in shape, and include an image of the American flag. Although this has been the most commonly used design for years, other designs have been used in some regions. In some areas, stickers are distributed for early voting or by mail. Some jurisdictions are opting to eliminate these stickers altogether.

 

The first "I voted" stickers were actually given out by the Phoenix Board of Realtors in 1985. The Board of Realtors was in favor of a freeway expansion and decided to distribute the stickers to encourage voter turnout. However, the sticker did not appear to have much effect. It did, however, spur a revival of interest in voter participation.

 

The I voted stickers have become an essential part of the United States' voting culture, and are still widely distributed throughout the country. Some jurisdictions do not provide these stickers for ballots sent by mail, while others invest more heavily in their distribution. Some counties have chosen not to use them for several reasons, including social distancing and budget constraints.

 

The most common usage for these stickers is as a way to announce the vote to other voters, which has been shown to increase turnout. In fact, studies have found that people are more likely to vote if they know that their friends have already voted. In 2010, scientists found that digital stickers led to an additional 340,000 votes during the midterms. In fact, some areas have begun phasing out their sticker rewards for the 2020 election, while others have gone so far as to remove them entirely.

 

Some jurisdictions have stepped away from the classic round "I voted" sticker and are instead giving out wristbands. This is because, in some cases, the stickers have proven to be a nuisance. For example, in Long Island, the Elections Office did not purchase stickers for the election because of budgetary constraints. In North Carolina, the county did not buy any for the election, in part because they didn't want to offend people's sensibilities.

 

New York City, for instance, holds a contest to determine the most effective election booths. The winning design is a viral spider-demon design by Hudson Rowan. This design was not only a wacky idea, it also sparked a renewed interest in voter participation. Other jurisdictions have taken a page from the New York City example and held a contest to find the best sticker. Some of the runner up stickers are being distributed to voters.

 

'I voted' stickers are a great way to remind citizens of their civic duty and help speed up poll worker distribution. They can be used for state, county, and presidential elections. If you want to know more about this topic, then click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system.