Filed by KOSU News in US News.
November 6, 2012

Proudly displayed by voters on their foreheads, their children and even their dogs, the ubiquitous “I Voted” sticker became a social media star on Tuesday.

“I’ve been proudly wearing my sticker all day and smiling and sharing that knowing nod with passersby on the streets. Regardless of our politics, we’re in this together,” wrote Clare Kelly, a Washington, D.C. voter, on her Facebook page Tuesday, adding, “Hell, yeah Democracy!”

The number of tweets using the hashtag, “#ivoted,” was trending early Tuesday evening with Twitter Government reporting “tweets with ‘I voted,’ ‘#ivoted’ and similar terms total 1.4M so far today, coming in at more than 2k per minute.”

Among those using the “#ivoted” hashtag, was “Glee” actor Darren Criss, tweeting, “If not for the fate of the country, for yourself, or even for me — at least do it for the sticker.” Within the hour, Criss’ tweet had been re-tweeted more than 3,000 times.

Damian Vantriglia, president of one manufacturer, National Campaign Supply, tells NPR the company started distributing the stickers nationwide in 1986 as a get-out-the-vote effort.

On Tuesday evening, Vantriglia was still delivering stickers to precincts in Florida where the company is based. He says the company’s delivered about 50 million stickers this election cycle.

“Voting is contagious. When someone sees the sticker, it reminds everyone it’s Election Day,” Vantriglia says. [Copyright 2012 National Public Radio]