No 'I Voted' sticker? State blames budget problems

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 10: An "I Voted" sticker featuring local Louisiana artist George Rodrigue's Blue Dog is worn by a voter on December 10, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Louisiana residents head to the polls on Saturday to select a U.S. Senator in a runoff election between Democratic candidate Foster Campbell and Republican candidate John Kennedy. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

No ‘I Voted’ sticker? State blames budget problems

Not long after the polls opened, many residents posted on social media that they didn't get the usual 'I voted' sticker at their local polling place. The reason, state officials say, is "budgetary constraints."

by Mary Staes | November 6, 2018

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Yes, even as adults, stickers matter. Especially the stickers that prove you went to exercise your right to vote. It’s a small badge of bragging rights we all wear proudly.

Not long after the polls opened, many residents posted on social media that they didn’t get the usual ‘I voted’ sticker at their local polling place. The reason, state officials say, is “budgetary constraints.” 💸

Hi Jennifer, the clerk is not responsible for them, my error. Our office sent out Blue Dog stickers in 2016 as a participation initiative, but has not provided them other than that election due to budgetary constraints. -Brandee Patrick, Public Information Director

— La. Sec. of State (@Louisiana_sos) November 6, 2018

Two years ago for the 2016 elections, artist George Rodrigue’s iconic Blue Dog ‘I Voted’ stickers made an appearance, causing such a frenzy that they began selling on Ebay, from $4.99-$50, according to an article from USA TODAY.

The Secretary of State’s office said on Twitter they are hopeful that they will be able to offer them in the future. We sure hope so, because bragging rights to show your pride for democracy is a small but welcome gesture.

Also, many area bars and watering holes are holding specials for people with ‘I Voted’ stickers, but how are locals going to get that?

The Courtyard Brewery says they’ll take your word for it.

Know any other bars offering Election Day specials? Hit us up on social media @VeryLocalNola or email us at [email protected]

If the lack of stickers is a bummer, maybe 5th Ward Weebie’s voting remix to his hit “Lemme Find Out” can get you to bounce on over to the polls. Click here to check it out.

Mary Staes

Mary Staes is Digital Content Lead for Very Local. She works with our freelancers and crafts content for our social media platforms and website. Before Very Local, she worked with CBS affiliate WWL-TV as a web producer and weekend assignment editor for about 4 years. She has also handled broadcast coverage for 160 Marine Reserve training facilities while she served as an active duty Marine. As a native New Orleanian, she takes being "very local" to heart. She loves being intertwined with the culture and figuring out how there are less than two degrees of separation between us all, whether we're natives or not.