Alaskans React to Whimsical New I Voted Stickers by Local Artist

Amanda Rose Warren’s wildlife designs bridge Alaskan divides

“I tried to create the same aurora over each of the animals to signify we are all under one sky here in Alaska,” said Anchorage artist Amanda Rose Warren. Her whimsical renditions of state wildlife are currently serving as more than just art; they have become highly sought-after rewards for Alaskans participating in the 2026 general election, Alaska’s News Source reported.

As early voting lines stretch across the state, the traditional “I Voted” sticker has taken on a new level of cultural significance. Rather than a generic emblem, this year’s stickers feature specific animals representing five distinct regions of Alaska, all set against the backdrop of the aurora borealis. The collection includes a moose for Anchorage, a bear for Wasilla, a fox for Fairbanks, a whale for Juneau, and a musk ox for Nome. Warren also incorporated the U.S. and Alaskan flags into her original paintings to complete the design.

The popularity of the stickers has created a unique atmosphere at polling locations. At the Midtown Mall’s early voting site, poll worker Grace Ann Pierce noted that voters often experience a moment of hesitation when faced with the variety of choices. “People will get up here and they hesitate on what sticker they want to pick,” Pierce said, adding that workers sometimes joke with voters about whether they only showed up to cast their ballot for the artwork.

The impact of Warren’s work extends beyond the stickers themselves. Her moose design has been selected to grace the cover of the official Alaska Division of Elections pamphlet for the 2026 general election, cementing the connection between local artistry and the state’s civic processes.

Civic engagement meets local artistry

For Warren, the opportunity to collaborate with the Alaska Division of Elections was a significant milestone. She has already begun receiving direct feedback from the public through small texts and emails from residents who are eager to collect the stickers during their early voting sessions.

While the election cycle can often feel polarized, the artist intended for the visual elements of the stickers to serve a unifying purpose. By using the aurora borealis as a consistent element across all five regional designs, she aimed to provide a sense of shared identity.

“It can be a very dividing day, but my hope was to kind of bring everybody together,” Warren said.

The enthusiasm for the stickers highlights a broader trend in civic participation, where small, tangible tokens of engagement can boost the morale of voters navigating long lines and complex election cycles. For many, the sticker is not just a symbol of a completed task, but a piece of local culture that celebrates the vast and varied geography of the state.