The 1987 sketch that became America's voting badge

Janet Boudreau, a business owner in Washington state, created the "I Voted" sticker in 1987. She designed the item after observing a local county distribute a different mark to voters on Election Day. Boudreau stated she has long viewed voting as a right and a duty for American citizens to express their views. She said the act irritates her when people claim they forgot about the election. She described the day as the primary opportunity to amplify how people want their world to look.

In 1987, Boudreau owned a company that supplied election materials and voting equipment. She noticed a county in Washington state began handing out stickers to people who cast ballots. She described the original design as black and white. It featured an X inside a square. Boudreau said she thought the image was not inspiring enough for the occasion.

She returned home and used a blue and red pen to draw her own version. She selected an ellipse shape containing a waving flag. The new design started in a few counties and spread across the United States. By 1992, Boudreau noted the sticker had become widespread. She described the growth as intense during that period.

Election Day memorabilia has a history that extends back to the 1920s. Pins, buttons, and ribbons were used during the women's suffrage movement. Since the 1990s, the "I Voted" sticker has generated various versions. These include state specific images and patches for future voters. Contests have also invited children to create their own sticker designs.

Boudreau said the sticker aims to inspire Americans to vote. She stated that the item has become a badge of honor for voters. She hopes the sticker continues to serve as a promise and a call to action in each election cycle. She encourages people to vote and then share the experience with others. The sticker remains a standard part of the post ballot routine in Davidson County and across the nation.