BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County is once again asking the public for help deciding which ‘I Voted’ sticker created by young artists should be handed out to voters this election season.

A press release from the county says it received an “awesomely overwhelming” response from artists for the 2024 ‘I Voted’ Sticker Contest, with 69 submissions. Ages of artist submissions ranged from five to 18 years old, with an average age of 11.2, the county says. Most submissions were drawn by hand, while some artists used design software. The county says there were many sibling-contributed designs, with one from a brother-sister duo.

Buncombe County Election Services Director Corinne Duncan said she felt lucky to be among so many budding artists, calling the contest an important way to teach children how they can participate in elections when they’re voting age.

“There was great participation this year and it’s really heartening to see so many beautiful and thoughtful entries,” Duncan said in a press release. “We are lucky to have such creative young people. It also gives parents a cheerful way to engage with their children and talk about voting before they visit the polls. Remember you can always take your kids with you to vote so they can observe you.”

The contest is in its second year — the first for the 2022 election — the county says.

With so many entries, the county created a Sticker Contest Committee that pared down the entries to a final 10 designs. The committee used the following criteria to pare down the final 10 entries:

  • Can I see enthusiasm and encouragement for the democratic process in this sticker?
  • What color choices, design choices, and craftsmanship elements really stand out?
  • How will this sticker look when it’s sized down to 1.5 inches?

The county is now asking for the public to take a moment to view the final entries and cast a vote for their favorite. Voting is open now through Aug. 18 and a winner will be announced on Aug. 20. Starting with Early Voting on Oct. 17, the stickers will be available after you cast your ballot.

CLICK HERE to vote.