Many New Yorkers hoping to receive their very own "I Voted" stickers left empty-handed Tuesday as polling sites ran out of the labels early in the day.
In Park Slope, one of the neighborhood's famed attributes could have been partly to blame.
One local voter told DNAinfo New York poll workers had bestowed his "adorable" 2-year-old with no fewer than four of the civic-minded labels at P.S. 133 on 4th Avenue and Baltic Street.
Stephen A. Christopher, a poll site coordinator at the Park Slope Armory, said his site started the day with six rolls of stickers, but quickly ran out.
Poll workers gave them out freely to voters and their progeny, and Christopher said he even asked some kids if they had siblings at home who might want them. By mid-morning, another poll worker was hoarding her few remaining stickers to give out to kids.
When the stickers were first introduced several years ago, "we practically had to tackle people and put them on their body," Christopher said. "Now they ask for them and seem genuinely disappointed when we run out."
Others noted on Twitter that the neighborhood seemed full sticker-laden children on Tuesday.
Park Slope, I'm concerned at how many kids I've seen wearing "I Voted" stickers. Children shouldn't vote. Our democracy has rules, people.
— Isaac Fitzgerald (@IsaacFitzgerald) November 8, 2016
These Park Slope kids are even more smug than usual today with their I Voted stickers.#ElectionDay
— Michelle Woods (@michellewoodsHA) November 8, 2016
The Armory YMCA had run out of "I Voted" stickers by about 10 a.m., a poll worker said. The lack of labels was a blow for proudly progressive Park Slopers, who were primed and ready to wear the stickers as a badge of honor on the street and in their Facebook feeds.
THEY ARE OUT OF STICKERS IN PARK SLOPE! Whom do I call about this pressing polling issue? #ElectionDay
— Kaitlin Menza (@heykmenz) November 8, 2016
I've been living in Park Slope for 25 years and I've never seen as many "I voted" stickers as today.
— E Vincentelli (@EVincentelli) November 8, 2016
An East Village polling place also burned through their supply of the coveted stickers with hours to go before polls closed.
The Village View Housing Corporation on E. Fourth Street, between First Avenue and Avenue A, ran out of stickers around 10 a.m., according to site coordinator Denise Lawless — and voters are disappointed not to be able to show off how they exercised their civic duty.
"I don't get a sticker that says I voted?" asked 83-year-old Jeanette Farley as she exited the polling station at around 2 p.m. "Well, how do you like that? And so early in the day."
Another disappointed voter said it was more than just a sticker — it was an important reminder for citizens to make their voices heard during an especially contentious election.
"I think when people see other people wearing stickers, it kind reminds them to vote. So I think it's really important," said Merle Ratner, a labor rights organizer at the International Commission for Labor Rights.
In the East Village, Lawless said she was unsure how many stickers the station received at the beginning of the day, but that at least 3,000 voters had come through the site since it opened at 6 a.m.
Volunteers did find a stash of 10 excess stickers at around 3 p.m. and were able to briefly award a handful of voters, but that didn't last long, said poll worker Molly Butcher.
Voters took to Twitter to express their disappointment at the sticker drought — some reporting they had been turned away without a sticker during the morning hours and some after long waits.
Voted. No sticker. Pretty bummed out. Definitive proof that we, as a country, have already reached rock bottom.
— Max J. (@Maxplosions) November 8, 2016
For better or for worse, I have performed my civic duty and cast my votes. No sticker, tho. 😔
— Wendy ManyCats (@crazy4catstoo) November 8, 2016
After a 3.5-hr wait, found out BoE had messed up my registration and had to vote by affidavit. AND there were no stickers. https://t.co/tI7rEoRP62
— Vivian Yee (@VivianHYee) November 8, 2016
@rachelholliday 🚨🚨🚨 PS 705/22 voting place on St Mark’s is OUT OF STICKERS.
— Michele ‟VOTE!” T (@michelet) November 8, 2016
Not all sticker-less voters were disgruntled at the news, however — some said it made no difference to them whether they got a sticker advertising they had voted.
"It's less trash," said Johnny Rozsa, shrugging, as he exited the Village View site. "It doesn't bother me."
