Early voting from Oct. 19 through Halloween yielded more than ballots cast for citizens to do their democratic due diligence. It also produced lots of smiles, thanks to artful “I Voted” stickers given to participants.
Streaming in social media feeds are the winning designs of this year’s “I Voted” Sticker Contest, the annual initiative of Charleston County’s Board of Voter Registration and Elections. Featuring three works of art by local students, they are printed on a limited run and distributed through the October early voting period.
“The artwork makes voting feel like an occasion. It gives voters a tangible way to celebrate participating in democracy, “ the board’s executive director, Isaac D. Cramer, told the Charleston City Paper.
Local Facebook and Instragram accounts showed beaming early voters brandishing the Charleston-centric art, which may serve as another compelling reason to head for the polls before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
You might spot the iconic pastel procession of Rainbow Row single houses created by K–5 grade winner Emmeline S. Or you’ll take in the beguiling green marsh swaying under a golden sky, a beloved Lowcountry scene created by Adalyn D., representing the entries from graded 6 to 8. There’s also the Charleston cityscape, its signature steeples standing proud, crowned by the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, the winning work of Katherine C., in the high school group.
To arrive at the three winning designs, nearly 4,200 votes were cast across 15 finalists on the board’s Facebook page.
“We were looking for opportunities to get kids interested in the election process,” Cramer said.
“We have a lot of very talented students in Charleston County, so it seemed like a great fit.”
And it has certainly resonated with current and future voters. With the first few elections, the board ordered around 30,000 stickers and ran out quickly. As demand and interest has grown, it has started to order more. This year, it ordered 105,000 to give more early voters the chance to get a sticker.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Cramer said. “Voters seem to enjoy hearing that students designed the stickers, and we’ve seen many people post about the stickers on social media.”
While voters can also opt for the standard red-white-and-blue sticker design, Cramer said most of the voters prefer the stickers designed by students when given the choice, which varies with each voting location.
And it’s addressing a main aim of the initiative: to get the word out. At the same time, it is fostering exchange in the classroom. Cramer said many teachers use the contest as a jumping off point for conversations about civic engagement.
“We have also used the partnerships with the schools to launch a Future Voter Program,” Cramer said. “In partnership with the Charleston County School District, we visit middle and high schools across the county to lead engaging, interactive lessons on elections and voting. Our team has developed a variety of hands-on lesson plans and can tailor each session to fit the needs and interests of different students.”
At the same time, the artwork underscores a crucial component of the democratic process. With its nods to beloved Charleston touchstones, and its cultivation of future generations of voters, the inviting artwork can galvanize local communities as they lend voice to the national landscape.
“Voting brings communities together, and many of the stickers showcase the beautiful landscapes or landmarks of Charleston to celebrate what makes our community special,” Cramer said.
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