Voting open for U.S. Postal Services’ 250th anniversary Stamp Encore contest

The United States Postal Service is giving Hawaiʻi a chance to help shape history, one stamp at a time.

The USPS invites the public to vote for the agency’s Stamp Encore contest, which allows a fan-favorite stamp pane from the past to be reprinted as part of its 2026 stamp lineup.

The nationwide contest was launched to honor the Postal Service’s 250th anniversary, while also looking ahead to America’s own semiquincentennial in 2026.

There are 25 stamp panes are in the running, showcasing some of the Postal Service’s most beloved releases in recent memory. Designs range from pop-culture icons such as Batman, Wonder Woman and Bugs Bunny, to historic commemorations like the Emancipation Proclamation and Transcontinental Railroad.

More whimsical choices, such as Frozen Treats, Happy Birthday and Message Monsters, are also on the list, highlighting the variety that has long defined U.S. postage.

Anyone can participate, and there’s no limit on how many times you can cast a vote.

The winning design will remain a secret until May 2026, when it will be revealed at the Boston 2026 World Expo, one of the largest philatelic gatherings in the world, while also coinciding with nationwide celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary, making the winning pane both a collector’s item and a piece of living history.

Last month, three communities on the island welcomed new postmasters to guide their development.

The three postmasters were hired around the United States Postal Service’s 250th anniversary on July 26. 

As the Postal Service celebrates 250 years of delivering mail and packages, it is honoring the work of postmasters and postal workers in their local communities across the country by releasing stamps that depict a day in the life of a carrier, delivering mail at various points.

Residents interested in submitting a stamp design can click here. Ballots will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30.

Individuals interested in applying for the Rural Carrier positions in Kīlauea, Lihue, Kapa’a and Koloa can click here.