Charlotte County teens create 'I Voted' sticker

PORT CHARLOTTE — If you voted in person in the primary election, you may have received an “I Voted” sticker designed by a Charlotte County high school student.

Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections Leah Valenti recently held a contest for students to create their own concept.

At a recent Charlotte County School Board meeting, Valenti recognized Charlotte High School junior Clara Bailey and Lemon Bay High School sophomore Annalise Robbins for their winning designs.

The new stickers debuted in the recent presidential preference primary and will be used in this year’s upcoming primary and general elections.

“By the end of the election cycle, more than 150,000 voters will get one of the two ‘I Voted’ sticker after casting their vote,” Valenti said.

Valenti said there were 25 submissions from Charlotte and Lemon Bay high schools. Robbins’ showcases an alligator, and Bailey’s has palm fronds surrounding the words “I voted.”

Valenti said the contest empowers local youth by “actively involving them in the voting and election process.”

“We are not just shaping informed citizens, but cultivating the leaders of tomorrow,” Valenti said.

She said it’s important to engage teens in voting programs.

“At the award ceremony, I felt like a proud mom,” said Valenti, who gave the two winners and their teachers certificates. “The election workers were prideful as well. We told many voters about the stickers and how they came to be. We displayed a poster of all of the entries for voters to pick a winner.”

The top two winners were selected by six judges, comprising the Visual Arts Center executive director, staff and local artists. The entries were displayed with no indication of the student’s name or school to be fair and impartial.

After they completed the judging, they picked their favorites. Valenti’s staff then picked their favorites.

“They were so good we couldn’t pick just one,” she said. “I think the students were receptive, but now that other students and faculty see the implementation of the contest, I feel there will be more entries in years to come. We are excited for this to be a tradition for upcoming election cycles.”

Valenti said there are other opportunities for students to volunteer or get paid in the upcoming elections.

“We encourage pre-registered 16- and 17-year-old and registered 18-year-old students to become election workers, which is a paid position,” she said.

For more information, visit www.soecharlotte countyfl.gov