Janet Boudreau created the 'I Voted' sticker in 1987

Janet Boudreau designed the national "I Voted" sticker in 1987. She created the design after seeing a local county in Washington state distribute a different type of sticker on Election Day. Boudreau owned an election supply and voting equipment company at the time. She wanted to make voting feel like a civic duty and a way for citizens to share their voice.

The original sticker Boudreau saw was simple. It was black and white with an X inside a square. Boudreau said that design did not feel inspiring. She also felt frustrated when people claimed they forgot about the election. She described voting as the one day citizens should amplify what they want the world to look like.

Boudreau returned home and sketched a new design. She used a blue and red pen. She drew an ellipse with a waving flag inside it. This became the standard design for the sticker. The idea began in a few counties and spread rapidly across the country.

By 1992, Boudreau said the sticker usage had exploded. She described the growth as nuts. The sticker joined a long history of Election Day memorabilia. Previous items included pins, buttons, and ribbons. Women used similar items during the suffrage movement in the 1920s.

The sticker has evolved since the 1990s. Some versions now feature state-specific images. Other versions include patches for future voters. Contests have also asked children to design their own stickers. Boudreau said the main goal is to inspire Americans to cast their ballots.

She views the sticker as a badge of honor. She hopes it continues to serve as a promise and a call to action every election cycle. Boudreau encourages people to vote and then tell others about it. The design has become a common sight on Election Day across the United States.