The Education Action Team of the League of Women Voters of Sarasota (LWVSRQ) in partnership with Sarasota County Public Schools, is sponsoring an essay, poster, and video contest, “YVOTE”, for high school students who will share their thoughts on the importance of voting. All students in Sarasota County’s public charter and district public high schools are eligible to enter, regardless of whether they are yet able to register to vote. Students will work independently on their entries, and the contest is not part of classroom activities or assignments.
The writer(s) of the winning essay, artist(s) of the winning poster, and the producer(s) of the winning video will each receive a prize of $500; second place winners in each category will receive $300 and 3rd place winners in each category will receive $200. If a single entry has been created by more than one person, the prize will be shared by the number of students who submitted that winning entry. The deadline for submissions is October 17, 2023, and winners will be announced on November 8, 2023 on social media and elsewhere.
Essay submissions should be no longer than 500 words, video entries cannot exceed 3 minutes, posters can be in any one of the three standard sizes: 24x36 (large) 16x24 (medium) and 11x17 (small). We are looking for creative, effective, and inspirational entries that capture issues and personal experiences. Entries should be a call to action, describing the importance of using our votes to influence the direction of our democracy. They may not include endorsements or criticisms of individual candidates or of political parties.
An application to enter the contest should be sent with the subject heading: YVOTE CONTEST APPLICATION to education@lwvsrq.org . Additional contest details will also be provided.
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a history of promoting informed voter participation and enhanced citizen engagement. With these goals in mind, LWVSRQ league members have been active for many years, conducting voter registration drives and providing voter education opportunities. Our focus on Sarasota’s high schools and newly eligible voters inspires the “YVOTE” contest. We hope this contest allows us to carry that message and enthusiasm to an even wider audience.
The LWVSRQ YVOTE CONTEST
IS FULLY FUNDED BY
GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION