Wichita Eighth Grader Wins Sedgwick County’s 2024 “I Voted” Sticker Contest

(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – Congratulations to Yamilet Salazar, an eighth-grade student from Wichita Mayberry Middle School, for winning Sedgwick County’s first-ever “I Voted” sticker contest! Her design features the American flag, the State of Kansas seal and official flower - the sunflower - with the words, “I Voted,” across the top of the colored pencil drawing. The Sedgwick County Election Office will now use the artwork as its official “I Voted” sticker, given to thousands of voters at polling sites and with advance ballots during the remainder of the 2024 electoral season.

 “I love how Yamilet’s patriotic design captures the spirit of our community, our country and our democracy,” said Laura Rainwater, Sedgwick County Election Commissioner. “I can’t wait to see voters wear this new sticker proudly during the Aug. 5 primary election!”

 A distinguished panel of judges chosen from the community picked the winning artwork from 127 entries and
awarded second and third place designs. Lily Cardenas, an 11^th grade student at Wichita North High School, and Madison Johnson, a sixth grader from Clearwater Intermediate Middle School, tied for second place. Evelin Barranco, an eighth-grade student from Wichita Pleasant Valley Middle School, took third place.

 The Election Commissioner introduced all of the student-artists and their designs at the April 17 Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) meeting. The artwork is also displayed on Sedgwick County Government’s social media pages. To view and download the designs, click here.

 “I hope the new voting sticker encourages more students to learn about our democratic process and get involved,” said Rainwater. “Even teens who are not yet old enough to vote are eligible to be election workers, starting at the age of 16, and can play a vital role at the polls.”

 This was the first year for Sedgwick County’s “I Voted” sticker contest, open to local students in grades 6-12. The artwork submitted had to be original and non-partisan and incorporate the theme of voting and elections in Sedgwick County, the State of Kansas or the United States. For more on the contest and its rules, visit the Sedgwick County Election website at Election Office | Sedgwick County, Kansas.

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