After 30+ years, Louisville voters are getting their "I Voted" stickers back

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If you've ever felt a little sticker envy scrolling through social media on Election Day, Jefferson County Clerk David Yates has some good news for you.

"I Voted" stickers are officially coming back to Louisville polling locations for the May 19 primary.

So why did they disappear in the first place? Turns out, stickers and temporary polling locations don't always mix. Churches, schools, and fire stations that doubled as precincts were dealing with stickers ending up on walls, floors, and pews, and the election center was on the hook for any damage. The Board of Elections eventually called it: stickers out.

But Yates says the calculus has changed. "We've listened to the voters. People love these stickers. They're a small but meaningful way to celebrate participating in our democracy," he said in Wednesday's announcement.

The stickers will be available at all in-person excused absentee voting sites, early voting locations, and Election Day precincts.

Whether you see them as a genuine civic tradition or a glorified piece of adhesive paper probably says something about your relationship with voting culture- but Yates is firmly in the believer camp. "Voting should feel good," he said. "If a sticker helps someone feel proud of casting their ballot or encourages a friend to vote, then it's worth bringing back."

For Jefferson County voters, here's what's left on the calendar:

• May 6-8 and May 11-13: In-person excused absentee voting
• May 14-16: In-person early voting, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• May 19: Primary Election Day, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Something coming soon...

I'm launching a candidate spotlight series focused on the political candidates who aren't getting invited to the big TV debates- on both sides of the aisle. Every candidate who has officially filed and is actively running will be offered the same opportunity: the same questions, the same format, the same platform. No favoritism, no gatekeeping. This is independent journalism doing what corporate media often can't- making sure Kentucky voters know who is actually on their ballot before they cast a vote. I'll start releasing these next week!

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