The Story Behind America's Iconic ‘I Voted’ Sticker

While the sticker was part of a tactical business strategy for Boudreau, her inspiration for it runs much deeper. Born in August 1959, Boudreau recalls growing up in a time of unrest, with a lot of “generational friction around the Vietnam war and civil rights.” Frequently, her family would sit around the dinner table and discuss the importance of voting. When Boudreau turned 18, casting her first ballot felt like a landmark moment.

“There are limited ways that a single individual can shape and change the world,” Boudreau says. “You do it through conversation. You do it through writing, you do it through protest. And you do it through voting.”

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Over the years, Boudreau has watched the function of the “I Voted” sticker shift. With the rise of the internet and 24-hour media cycles, she sees it serving less as a reminder that it’s Election Day and more as a conversation starter.

“It's patriotism without any proclamation that is divisive,” says Boudreau.

Boudreau sold Intab to two employees in 2015. These days, she works as an executive coach to other business owners. But the sticker remains a part of who she is. Every time Boudreau goes to the polls, her fiancé enthusiastically tells people that he’s marrying the woman who created the “I Voted” sticker. It’s a legacy her friends and family love to share.

On Election Day, as she exits her polling station in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Boudreau will reach for a sticker, whether it's her rippling flag design or another version. She always does. And like millions of other voters across the country, she’ll wear it with pride, often snapping a selfie on her phone camera.

“Grown adults enjoy getting stickers. That just makes me happy,” Boudreau says.

Grace Dickinson is a writer for aarp.org who covers federal and state policy. She previously wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work has also appeared on sites including HuffPost and Eater.

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