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Republican or Democrat, Green Party or Independent, male or female, old or young, there is one thing almost all voters have in common on Election Day, other than the fact that they voted: an "I Voted" sticker.
It's seems hard to believe that a single piece of adhesive paper can invoke so much passion in U.S. citizens, but that's just what it does.
Dr. Richard Smolka, Professor Emeritus at The American University and founder of Election Administrative reports, chalks up this feeling of passion to the sense of civic duty Americans associate with voting.
He explains, "Voting is considered a civic duty even by some of those who do not vote. The census reports on voter turnout caution their numbers may be high because a significant number of non-voters say they voted rather than admit they neglected their duty. So my best answer is that some voters want to let the world know that they performed their duty."
It is uncertain when the "I Voted" sticker originally made its appearance on Election Day. Some historians point to the 1980s and one company claims to have created the original stickers in 1986.
Today, however, the "I Voted" Sticker is not just about telling the world you completed your civic duty; many businesses encourage voting by offering giveaways to those wearing the sticker.
Regardless of your motivation, there is no denying the power of the "I Voted" Sticker. Maggie Ostrowski, a spokesperson for the Ohio Secretary of State's office, notes that the stickers actually make the jobs of poll workers easier by encouraging citizens to vote. She explains, "Voters in Ohio definitely ask for them when they finish voting. They wear them as a badge of honor on Election Day that they exercised their right to vote and participated in our democracy. It's a small gesture, but it means a lot to them to wear it proudly and see fellow citizens wearing them too."
Even kids today are getting in on the action, receiving their own "I Voted" sticker after voting in their own mock elections.
Kids Voting USA partners with schools and election officials across the country to teach students to prepare youth to be educated, engaged voters. The organization uses civic activities to introduce students to the concepts of citizenship as early as kindergarten in the interest of developing the strong skills and habits that are invaluable for living in a democracy.
Students prepare for the election in their classrooms, where they learn about the voting process and the Electoral College. In the evenings, children listen to their parents discuss issues surrounding the election and come into the classroom ready to discuss. The current events nature of the election keeps the children interested and teachers challenge students to help them establish their own opinions on the issues.
After they have taken time to discuss the issues and fully understand the election process, the students take part in a mock election that mimics the actual election with the same candidates and same issues. This combination of classroom instruction, family dialogue and authentic voting experience makes the program a powerful tool for affecting long-term voting behavior.
And just like their parents, they walk away with pride wearing their "I Voted" sticker and letting everyone around them know they participated in the election, even in their own small way, and made their own voices heard.
LabelValue.com is a Florida-based label manufacturer specializing in custom labels and desktop printer labels. Our company currently offers seven unique styles of "I Voted" stickers. We can also custom design "I Voted" stickers to meet your specifications.
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