Janet Boudreau designed the I Voted sticker in 1987

Janet Boudreau created the I Voted sticker in 1987 to give voters a more inspiring visual cue than what she saw in her local county.

The design began as a reaction to a specific observation. Boudreau, who owned an election supply and voting equipment company at the time, watched a county in Washington state distribute a simple black and white sticker featuring an X in a square. She found that minimal design unappealing. She went home, took out a blue and red pen, and drew an ellipse containing a waving flag. That sketch became the template for the modern sticker.

Boudreau described voting as a right and a duty for American citizens. She said the sticker serves to amplify the voices of those who participate. She noted that it irritated her and others when people claimed they forgot the election. The goal was to make the act of voting visible and honorable.

The sticker started in a few counties and expanded rapidly. By 1992, Boudreau said the adoption was widespread. The item has since spawned many variations. These include state-specific images and patches for future voters. Children have also participated in contests to design their own versions. The history of election day memorabilia dates back further, including pins and ribbons used during the women's suffrage movement in the 1920s.

Boudreau views the sticker as a badge of honor. She hopes it continues to function as a promise and a call to action in every election cycle. Her advice to voters is to cast their ballots and then share the experience with others.

The original design by Boudreau has become the standard symbol for voter participation in the United States. It replaced the earlier, simpler designs used by some local governments.