This plays like a social experiment.  A mom is holding a porcelain cup and telling her little boy, “You know what time it is.”

Without hesitation, he replies, “Wine time.”  But she has to remind him it’s not even 9:00 A.M., which is “coffee time.”

'I Voted' Sticker: 5 Fun Facts About Civic Duty's Most Iconic Symbol

• They first gained popularity in the 1980s, but…

  Share

  It's unclear who was the first to start giving out "I Voted" stickers. Per a report from 'Bustle', "Though the Phoenix Realtors Association (PRA) claims to have dreamed up an "I Voted Today" sticker in 1985, a 'Miami Herald' article published in 1982 says Fort Lauderdale businesses gave a discount to customers donning an "I Voted" sticker, according to TIME magazine."

• Who designed the classic oval sticker?

  Share

  According to 'Time,' "Janet Boudreau, who used to run the election-supply company Intab, designed a version with an American flag blowing in the wind in 1987. She was shocked by how many people didn’t realize it was Election Day, and wanted to do something to help."

• Chicago’s Version of the “I Voted” sticker

  Share

  The Windy City does things a little differently. Since 2016, instead of "I Voted" stickers, Chicagoans receive "I Voted" wristbands. 'The Chicago Sun-Times' said the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners opted for the wristbands after complaints of stickers being stuck to walls of polling places.
• How much do they cost to produce?

  Share

  A 'Mic' article from 2012 said it costs 15 cents to produce a single "I Voted" sticker. "Though it's unclear exactly how many stickers governments around the country did purchase, it is worth noting that ensuring that one of these stickers would be available to each of the United States's 230 million voters would cost over $34 million. With these stickers available all over the country, there is little doubt that the government spent millions for adults to wear stickers," notes the author. Clearly, the author lacks any sense of whimsy!

• They can sometimes get you free stuff (even though it might be illegal)

  Share

  Some businesses offer free goods/services if you show your "I Voted" sticker. During the 2018 midterm elections, 'The New York Times' shared a list of businesses with "I Voted" sticker promotions. They included Uber and Lyft, who were offering free rides to polling stations, and Shake Shack, who were offering free crinkle-cut French fries with every order. Even though it's great to encourage civic engagement, 'The New York Times' notes, "Providing voters with incentives before or after voting in a federal election is technically illegal." Oops?

Sign me up for the Dave & Chuck the Freak Daily Download newsletter!

Monday through Friday you'll get our daily Peep Show delivered to your inbox along with stories you won't want to miss.

First Name *

Last Name

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.