No 'I voted' sticker? Use this face filter instead

Yahoo Life

November 4, 2020 at 9:27 AM·10 min read

Voting looks a little different this year. People are casting their ballots early or absentee, by mail or drop box, in record numbers. However, one thing remains the same: voters want to show pride in completing their civic duty. A ballot selfie is OK in some states and illegal in others while “I voted” stickers generally don’t get doled out to those not voting in person — so to help, Yahoo has created a face filter as a digital alternative for people looking to make it known that they participated at the polls.

Here are the simple steps for finding and using your state’s face filter:

Select your state by clicking on the map or choosing it from the drop-down menu.
Click “Try the face filter.”
Grant the AR experience camera access.
A brightly colored, state-specific “I voted” sticker will appear on your face. Try out a few poses and take some photos.
Save the photo to your computer or post it directly to Instagram.
Share the photo on social media to show your friends and family that you have voted in the presidential election and to encourage them to vote too!

Why did we choose these symbols? Each one has a special meaning. Read below to find out the significance of every state’s icon.

Alabama

The migratory monarch is native to Alabama. While it’s a seasonal visitor, descending on nearly every county throughout the spring and summer months, the legislature in 1989 made the butterfly the Official State Insect.

Alaska

The Alaskan Malamute has a long history in Alaska, dating back 5,000 years to the first North American settlers, according to archaeologists. Today, the sled dog is still active, used on arctic expeditions because of its ability to withstand cold temperatures.

Arizona

In Arizona there are 54 unique species of cactus, with the most prevalent being cylindropuntia, echinocereus, ferocactus, mammillaria and opuntia.

Arkansas

Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County, Arkansas, is open to the public and one of the only places in the world where people can look for these beautiful rocks.

California

While the California grizzly bear is extinct, its legacy lives on with the state’s flag.

Colorado

From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to biking and hiking throughout the warmer months, Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park provides residents with recreation and nature all year round.

Connecticut

Connecticut’s New London was, for years, the second-busiest whaling port in the United States. Now, the state honors this legacy with the famous Mystic Seaport Museum.

Delaware

In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.

District of Columbia (DC)

Click on the image to use the DC "I voted" face filter.

The Giant Pandas at Washington’s National Zoo are the pride and joy of the city. They are “ambassadors for conservation” and Giant Pandas (including a new baby panda cub!) have been a main attraction for tourists and residents alike since the first pandas arrived from China in 1972. Bonus: check out the panda cam!

Florida

Known as the sea cow, the West Indian manatee makes its home in central Florida, with 600 of the gentle giants migrating to Citrus County on Florida’s west coast each year. Manatees are a threatened species, but conservation efforts have moved them off the endangered list in recent years.

Georgia

Get your mind out of the gutter! Well before the peach emoji became emblematic of a certain body part, the stone fruit served as Georgia’s unofficial mascot thanks to its deep agricultural history in the region.

Hawaii

Sure, the pineapple’s origin can technically be traced back to South America, but Hawaii embraced the crop like nowhere else in the world. Locally known as “hala kahiki,” which translates to foreign fruit, the pineapple industry on the island nation is booming. Be sure to take a tour of the Dole Plantation if planning a visit to Oahu.

Idaho

Idaho’s a fisher’s paradise with its rivers, lakes and streams and trout is the most likely catch of the day.

Illinois

Funny enough, Chicago’s Cloud Gate sculpture, better known as The Bean, was made by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor.

Indiana

There are eight species of cardinal and more than 100 million of the birds worldwide, but the northern cardinal has a fondness for Indiana where its distinct birdcall can most clearly be heard in the springtime.

Iowa

Iowa is the U.S.’s biggest producer of corn, churning out 2.7 billion bushels annually. Stereotypes exist for a reason!

Kansas

Sure, Dorothy got her ruby slippers while in Oz, but her journey starts (and ends) in the Sunflower State.

Kentucky

On the first Saturday in May, all eyes turn to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, a horse race held annually in Louisville.

Louisiana

About 1.4 million people descend on New Orleans each year for Mardi Gras to celebrate Fat Tuesday with a parade, floats, beads and a whole lot of bacchanalia.

Maine

Ever had lobster? Chances are it came from Maine. In 2019, 100.7 million pounds of lobster were caught from the Atlantic Ocean around Maine’s coast.

Maryland

Crab boils on the Chesapeake Bay are a summer staple in Maryland, where blue crabs have been harvested commercially since the 1800s. Chesapeake is a Susquahanok word meaning “great shellfish bay” and the crab is the official state crustacean.

Massachusetts

Boston Cream Pie might be Massachusetts’ official state dessert, but its residents sure do love donuts too so a combination of the two — a Boston Cream Pie Donut — is the perfect, and most delicious, compromise.

Michigan

Besides the fact that Michigan is shaped like a mitten, the state also needs the hand protection seeing as its residents face some of the coldest temperatures in the nation.

Minnesota

Minnesota, also known as The State of Hockey, is one of the few states with moose and boasts a population of about 2,400-4,320 of the wild animal.

Mississippi

The Magnolia trees of Mississippi can reach 60 to 80 feet tall and feature beautiful flowers with an intoxicating scent.

Missouri

The famous St. Louis Gateway Arch is the tallest arch in the world and was built to symbolize Thomas Jefferson’s vision of westward expansion.

Montana

The grizzly bear has seen a surge in population in the state over the last 40 years. They are distinguishable from the American black bear thanks to their larger size and rounded ears. Grizzlies also like to inhabit the state's scenic terrain like meadows, shrub fields and sidehill parks.

Nebraska

North American antelope, or pronghorns, can be found in the deserts and dry grasslands of the western United States. Their unique horns, which can be found on both males and females, are actually a cross between horns and antlers; they are made of bone and shed each year.

Nevada

What else comes to mind when you think of Nevada if not dice thanks to the state's popular tourist destination, Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world.

New Hampshire

The most common wildcat in North America is the Lynx and, in particular, likes to call New Hampshire home.

New Jersey

The Garden State is the second-largest blueberry cultivator in the country producing more than 20 percent of the nation’s 38 million pounds of blueberries.

New Mexico

Chiles have grown in New Mexico for 400 years after being brought over from Mexico and can range from 0 to 2,000,000 Scoville Heat Units.

New York

Aside from its larger than life buildings, the bright lights and busy streets, the Empire State is also known for its hand-tossed thin crust and wide pizza slices.

North Carolina

Ohio natives Wilbur and Orville Wright completed the first-ever manned flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903. The flight lasted 12 seconds and cemented the state’s reputation as the birthplace of aviation.

North Dakota

Ladybugs are tougher than they look. Also known as the convergent lady beetle, the insect has been sold to farmers to help with pest control with Aphids, making them a major part of the state’s agricultural industry.

Ohio

The Buckeye State has made a name for itself in the sports world thanks to its die-hard fans, particularly when it comes to football. From Ohio State to the Cleveland Browns, Ohio football fans are some of the most loyal in the sport.

Oklahoma

The American bison is not only the largest mammal in North America, but it’s played a major role in the country’s history and has a special place in the cultures of several indigenous tribes. Though early European settlers almost hunted the animal to extinction, bison populations have increased over the years thanks to conservation efforts.

Oregon

Oregon officially became the Beaver State in 1969, but the beaver has graced the jerseys of the Oregon State University’s sports teams since 1952. Beavers go even further back representing Oregon’s fur trade roots and importance to the local environment for the animal’s dam-building and erosion-preventing prowess.

Pennsylvania

As delicious as it is symbolic, Pennsylvania claims ownership of one of America’s favorite (and oldest!) snack foods, the pretzel, which came to the U.S. from German immigrants in the 1700s. Today, Pennsylvania still produces 80 percent of the pretzels in the U.S.

Rhode Island

While all of New England can lay claim to a good chowda, Family Guy fans know Rhode Island Quahogs are unique. They became the official state shell in 1987 and were the original clam sold to Campbell’s for its New England clam chowder.

South Carolina

Pretty palmetto trees have represented South Carolina since early in the state’s history, featuring on the state flag starting in 1861. The palmetto is a mini palm tree that grows to only about 30 feet and is native to the lower eastern seaboard.

South Dakota

Coyotes are South Dakota’s state animal, known for their unique howl called the “song of the west.” Coyotes, fittingly, are the mascot for the University of South Dakota.

Tennessee

Tennessee is home to the recording industry’s music row, the Grand Ole Opry and Dollywood. The guitar symbolizes Tennessee’s music roots — and music future.

Texas

While there’s no such thing as a Holiday Armadillo, Texas is home to the nine-banded armadillo, the state’s official small mammal. They’re about the size of a large cat and are immigrants to Texas — scientists say the first armadillos came across the Rio Grande in the 1840s.

Utah

Utah is the Beehive State — but Utah is pretty low on the list of honey-producing states. The beehive symbol actually originates from the Mormon symbol of the hive, used by founder Brigham Young to represent cooperative work.

Vermont

The most famous Vermonters are probably Ben & Jerry, who turn milk from Vermont’s dairy cows into Cherry Garcia ice cream. For this, we are grateful. Vermont has about 135,000 dairy cows — and that’s a lot considering it only has about 623,000 people!

Virginia

Like its Chesapeake neighbor, Maryland, Virginia is a shellfish haven, with oysters being the main attraction. Virginia’s state shellfish, the Eastern Oyster, means the state plays host to oyster roasts, oyster festivals and even the Virginia Oyster Trail.

Washington

It’s no surprise Washington is famous for its coffee — it made Starbucks a household name and coffeeshop culture a bonafide past time. Rainy winters make big-city dwellers in Seattle coffee connoisseurs and the coffee roasting industry keeps the state hopped up, too.

New on Yahoo