By Aliss Higham
Copyright newsweek
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is reminding Americans that voting in its Stamp Encore contest closes at midnight on September 30.
The contest, created as part of USPS’s commemoration of its 250th anniversary this year and the nation’s semiquincentennial in 2026, asks the public to help pick a previously issued stamp pane for reprinting as part of next year’s stamp program.
Why It Matters
The contest gives ordinary collectors—and casual fans—a direct role in shaping a small piece of how the country will mark 250 years. The Stamp Encore contest pares a long postal history down to 25 bestselling and popular panes from recent decades and asks voters to select one to return to circulation.
What To Know
Voting is open to everyone, and there’s no limit on how many times a person can vote. The array of choices blends pop-culture favorites with commemorations of major American milestones.
Selections include more playful designs—such as Star Wars droids, Disney villains, Mister Rogers and Bugs Bunny—and commemorative issues marking the transcontinental railroad and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.
This is the full list of panes up for reissue: Art of Disney: Magic (2007); Bugs Bunny (1997); DC Comics Super Heroes (2006); Flag Act of 1818 (2018); Have a Ball! (2017); Mail a Smile (2015); Peanuts (2001); Star Wars: Droids (2021); Wonder Woman (2016); Batman (2015); Charles M. Schulz (2022); Disney Villains (2017); Frozen Treats (2018); Heritage Breeds (2021); Message Monsters (2021); Send a Hello (2011); Total Eclipse of the Sun (2017); Bioluminescent Life (2018); Classics Forever (2016); Emancipation Proclamation (2013); Happy Birthday (2021); Let’s Celebrate (2020); Mister Rogers (2018); Star Trek (2016); Transcontinental Railroad (2019).
Stock image/file photo: A close-up of a stack of letters with postage stamps.
What People Are Saying
Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner said in a July statement: “On July 26th, we proudly observe the 250th Anniversary of the United States Postal Service and mark two and a half centuries of service to the American public. In 1775, our Founding Fathers recognized the importance of creating an institution that could bind the nation together and foster secure and accessible communications between every community in America. The rich and enduring history of the Postal Service demonstrates the strength of their wisdom, and we look forward to providing reliable, affordable, and universal service for generations to come.”
What Happens Next
Voting runs through September 30 and can be completed either online or by mail. The chosen pane is set to be unveiled in May at the Boston 2026 World Expo, coinciding with nationwide events marking 250 years since the founding of the United States.
