Snohomish County Elections receives national award for “I Voted” sticker program

Snohomish County Elections was recognized on Tuesday, May 12, for excellence in election administration with a national Clearinghouse Award for its creative and original “I Voted” stickers.

Now in its 10th year, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) presents these awards annually to recognize best practices in election administration, according to a County news release. This year’s winning programs took place during the 2025 election cycle.

According to county officials, the “I Voted” sticker series was designed to celebrate the diversity of Snohomish County while encouraging voter participation and civic pride. Instead of using a single design, the initiative features multiple custom-designed stickers inspired by the county’s landscapes, industries and communities.

Also known as the “Clearies,” these awards play an essential role in fulfilling the EAC’s mission to serve as a clearinghouse for election administration information under the Help America Vote Act. The EAC is an independent, bipartisan federal agency solely focused on election administration. Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability and the generation of positive results.

Six designs are currently part of the series, with a seventh debuting in July for the August Primary. This newest addition was developed in collaboration with one of the region’s Indigenous tribes to ensure thoughtful and authentic representation of tribal communities within Snohomish County.

“Our office is proud to see this project recognized as it reflects both the creativity of our staff and the unique character of Snohomish County,” said Snohomish County Auditor Garth Fell. “These designs were created to make civic participation feel more visible, relatable and connected to community identity. While small in scale, we hope projects like this help spark conversations around voting and reinforce a stronger culture of civic engagement. We’re fortunate to have a talented team whose creativity and commitment continue to strengthen public engagement in meaningful ways.”

EAC Chairman Thomas Hicks, Vice Chair Christy McCormick and Commissioner Ben Hovland said in a joint statement that the winning programs demonstrated creative and effective ways election officials supported voters during the 2025 election cycle.

“We congratulate this year’s Clearinghouse Award winners for their exceptional programs. We received nearly 200 entries from across the country, and these were the most innovative and creative ways state and local election officials supported voters in 2025,” the three said in the news release.

“The winning programs also stood out because they can be replicated and scaled to meet the needs of other election offices, regardless of size or resources, for future elections. This is a special year for the Clearinghouse Awards, not only for the caliber of the winners, but also for the 10th anniversary of the awards. Over the past decade, we have seen shining examples of election officials’ creativity, spirit and drive to serve their communities. This year is no different. The EAC is pleased to provide a national platform and commemorate their hard work.”

The new “I Voted” stickers will be available during the August primary and November general election at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office in Everett, accessible voting sites and Sno-Isle Libraries locations throughout the County.