Louisiana's 2019 "I voted" sticker featuring Lafayette artist Tony Bernard's design has earned a national award for originality and creativity from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

"I'm thrilled; it's pretty neat," said Bernard, whose signature "King George" pelican was the featured image on the state seal. "It was great to look out on Election Day and see everybody wearing my artwork on their shirts."

More:Blue Dog mania: That 'I Voted' sticker could be valuable

Republican Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, the state's chief elections officer, brought the stickers back for last year's governor's primary and runoff elections.

Louisiana's first "I Voted" stickers issued for the 2016 presidential election featuring the late Acadiana artist George Rodrigue's iconic "Blue Dog" were also wildly popular. They're still being offered on eBay with asking prices of $10 or more.

Ironically, Bernard was Rodrigue's understudy for 25 years before Rodrigue's death in 2013.

"I'm very pleased," Ardoin said. "It shows our efforts to turn out voters and allow them to display their civic pride is paying off. We want to do whatever we can to build excitement and increase voter turnout, and nothing has excited voters like the stickers."

Ardoin said his agency spent $18,000 for 3.2 million stickers.

The Election Assistance Commission announced five sticker winners during its Clearinghouse "Clearies" Awards that recognize innovations in elections and best practices in recruiting, training and retaining election workers.

Other sticker winners were Alaska (produced in the state's native language) and three in Nevada (one designed in the shape of the famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, another with Braille and a third featuring the Sierra mountains).

“Presidential election years present unique challenges for election officials and voting has already begun in the nation’s first primary," said Election Assistance Commission Chairwoman Christy McCormick. "As election officials buckle down for a busy election year, we are excited to announce the creative and original sticker honorees to recognize election officials across the country who did exceptional work in 2019 for outreach to voters through this American tradition.

"The recipients of these awards displayed a tremendous understanding of their voters and local artistry in their service to the community."

Stickers were evaluated in four areas: creativity; originality; local flare; and artistic aesthetic.

Ardoin said his agency is already considering artists to produce the next "I voted" sticker in time for the 2020 presidential election.

"It could be a collectors' series," he said. "It's important for us to commission a Louisiana artist. Tony's art for the sticker showcases Louisiana's culture and heritage."

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1