Vote early and often to choose Rhode Island’s official election sticker
Voting has begun in the contest to choose what Rhode Island’s new, customized “I voted” stickers will look like when people head to the polls this year.
Anyone with an internet connection can vote on the eight finalist designs, which feature images including anchors, the State House dome and outlines of the state borders. Online voting can be found at the Board of Election’ website elections.ri.gov/Contest/
The Board of Elections received 81 entries of prospective sticker designs in the contest that began March 2, according to executive director Robert Rapoza.
Each of the seven members of the Board of Elections chose one finalist and Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea chose one.
Rhode Island sticker contest voting, which began Thursday morning, will run until the end of this month.
Unlike elections for public office, the sticker design contest allows multiple votes for as many different designs as you want.
“Remember, you can vote early and often in this election,” Board of Elections Vice Chairman Stephen Erickson tweeted Wednesday.
Other states have featured their own, unique stickers to give to voters after they cast their ballots, but Rhode Island has opted for the generic American flag sticker until this year.
The Board of Elections has budgeted $7,400 to produce a unique sticker design, $2,400 more than it would spend on the generic stickers.
The coronavirus crisis has delayed the state’s presidential primary and prompted a move to get as many people as possible to vote by mail.
Voters casting a ballot by mail will get a sticker with their ballot, secretary of state spokesman Nick Domings said Friday, although the new custom design won’t be ready for the June 2 presidential primary.
panderson@providencejournal.com
(401)277-7384
On Twitter:PatrickAnderso_