Washington County Launches Student Sticker Design Contest for 2026 Elections

The Washington County Board of Elections is encouraging young residents to participate in its 2025–2026 “I Voted” Student Sticker Contest. The winning artwork from this competition will be used to create the official “I Voted” stickers distributed to voters during the upcoming election year. This initiative aims to foster civic engagement among students while celebrating their artistic talents.

The contest, which commences on September 29, 2025, is open to all students in Washington County, encompassing kindergarten through 12th grade. This includes those attending public schools, private institutions, and those who are homeschooled. Participants are invited to submit one original design that visually represents the concept of voting and elections. All submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2025. There is no fee required to enter the contest.

For an entry to be considered valid, the artwork must incorporate specific phrases: “I Voted” or, for elementary school submissions only, “Future Voter,” along with the text “Washington County.” The designs should clearly relate to the theme of voting or elections and must be capable of fitting within a 2-inch circular sticker format. Importantly, all submitted artwork must be original and cannot include any copyrighted material, trademarked elements, AI-generated content, or partisan political messaging.

Students have two primary methods for submitting their artwork. They can opt to submit a physical copy of their design, or they can provide a digital file. Acceptable digital formats include PDF, PNG, JPG, or JPEG, with files needing to be under 1GB in size. Both physical and digital submissions must be accompanied by a completed and signed Student Information & Release Form. These can be sent via email to washco.elections@maryland.gov or mailed to the Washington County Board of Elections at 17718 Virginia Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740.

A panel of judges will evaluate all submitted entries. The judging criteria will focus on creativity, originality, and the clarity of the voting or election-related message. Following this initial review, three finalists will be selected from each of the three grade categories: elementary school, middle school, and high school. This will result in a total of nine finalists, whose names will be announced on December 12, 2025.

Following the selection of the finalists, the community will have the opportunity to choose the ultimate winners. An online public voting period will be held from January 5 to January 23, 2026, accessible through the official election website at washco-mdelections.org. During this time, the public can cast their votes, and one winner will be selected from each grade category. The final winners will be officially confirmed and notified of their success on January 30, 2026.

The grand prize for the winners is significant recognition. The winning design will be produced and distributed as the official “I Voted” sticker for Washington County voters in 2026. In addition to the winners, the names and artwork of all nine finalists may be showcased across various media platforms, including television, radio, newspapers, and social media channels, providing them with broad exposure for their creative efforts.

Students interested in participating or learning more about the contest can find complete rules and download the required forms on the Washington County Board of Elections website at washco-mdelections.org. Alternatively, they can contact the board directly at (240) 313-2050 for further information.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Washington County Board of Elections.

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