I Voted Sticker Design Contest

Calling All Artists!
The Soldotna City Council is excited to launch an “I Voted” Sticker Design Contest for 2024! Voting stickers are a badge of honor proudly worn by voters to declare they've exercised their right to vote and remind others to make their voice heard too. Together, we'll highlight local talent and celebrate Soldotna’s civic pride. Your art could be printed and distributed to voters across the area!

How It Works
Artists of all ages are invited to submit their sticker designs from May 15-June 15, 2024. A panel of judges will review and select the finalists in each of three categories, Finally, a community vote will determine the winners. 

Timeline
• May 15 – June 15 – Submission Period
• June 15 – June 30 – Preliminary Judging
• July 1 – July 20 – Public Voting
• July 27 – Announcement of Winners
• September 16 – October 1 – Stickers Available at Absentee Voting location and Polling Site on Election Day

Application Requirements

Design Requirements
Artists must use their skills to create an original design that celebrates voting and Soldotna, Alaska. All submissions:
MUST include the words "I Voted" OR "Future Voter" depending on the category being entered 
MUST be original artwork and not include stock photos, borrowed images, AI-generated imagery, product logos, copyrighted characters or other material, brand names, etc. All entries must be the original artwork, of high quality, and executed solely by the artist. Work that has been directly copied from any published source, may not be entered unless the artist has creatively modified or reinterpreted the original work using the artist’s own vision or style. 
MUST be nonpartisan and MUST NOT reference any candidates, political parties, or advocate for or against any issue
MUST NOT include any obscene, violent, or defamatory words or imagery
MUST NOT include any dates or years

Winning artwork will be printed on circular stickers and will include the City of Soldotna logo.  Artists should design artwork to fit in one of the provided templates. Artwork behind the City of Soldotna logo should not interfere with the legibility of the logo.  

Digital submissions MUST meet the acceptable file formats for the online submission platform (JPEG or JPG format, under 5 MB, and 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side)
Hand rendered submissions  MUST be drawn on white paper
Submissions may be hand-drawn using pencils, pens, crayons, markers, paint, or other mixed media tools, or created using graphic design software, but artists may not use an AI art generator to create their designs. Digital files must be submitted as high-quality JPEG or JPG files.
If your submission is made using the online submission portal please retain your original artwork so it can be made available to the City of Soldotna upon request.

How to Enter

To enter online: Visit this link. Artists must create a free account with Call for Entry (CaFÉ) to submit artwork. Visit https://artist.callforentry.org/regiser.php to create an account. Please follow the CaFÉ guidelines for acceptable file formats. Artists must upload artwork to "My Portfolio" within their CaFE account. Once artwork is uploaded, it can be selected for submission to this contest. 

To enter in-person (future voter and youth categories only): Download, print, and complete the entry form. Mail or deliver the form and submission to the City Clerk’s Office, at 177 N. Birch Street, Attn: I Voted Sticker Contest, Soldotna, AK 99669. Mailed submissions must be received by the deadline of June 15, 2024—postmarks do not count.

Selection of Winners

Entries will be judged by a qualified panel based on compliance with design requirements, artistic skill and excellence, the design’s celebration of voting and/or civic pride, and the design’s relevance and representation of Soldotna, Alaska.

The panel will narrow down the submissions to the top 3-5 in each of the three categories, and then the public will determine final winners. The decision of the panel regarding any winners is final, including, but not limited to, any decision that no winners will be chosen.

Prizes

The Winner in the Future Voter Category will receive Two Hundred and Fifty U.S. Dollars ($250.00), one (1) seasonal pass to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, City of Soldotna promotional items, and potentially other awards at the City’s discretion.

The Winner in the Youth Category will receive Five Hundred U.S. Dollars ($500.00), one (1) seasonal pass to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, City of Soldotna promotional items, and potentially other awards at the City’s discretion.

The Winner in the Adult Category will receive Five Hundred U.S. Dollars ($500.00), one (1) seasonal pass to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, City of Soldotna promotional items, and potentially other awards at the City’s discretion.

Contest Winners may be required to sign and return a W9 Form.

All expenses, fees, tariffs, and taxes will be responsibility of the Winners. Entrants may not resell, assign, or transfer any of their rights in their Submissions under these Official Rules.

No assignment, transfer, or substitution of the Prize is permitted, but the City reserves the right to substitute a Prize for one of comparable or greater value should the Prize become impracticable to award or unavailable for any reason.

Eligibility Criteria

Future Voter Category
This category is open to elementary school students interested in designing the Future Voter stickers that will be distributed at vote centers and community events in 2024.
Artists must:
• Use the printable entry forms provided, or submit via the CaFÉ online submission platform
• Be a student residing on the Kenai Peninsula, or enrolled in school in the Kenai Peninsula Borough
• Be less than 13 years old
• Include the words “I Voted” or “Future Voter” somewhere in their design
• Meet the design requirements
• Agree to the terms and conditions, including providing a signed copy of the parental/legal guardian consent form (minors may not submit their own artwork)

Youth Category
This category is open to middle and high school students.
Artists must:
• submit design through the CaFÉ online submission platform or use of the pintable entry forms provided
• Be a student residing on the Kenai Peninsula or enrolled in a school in the Kenai Peninsula Borough
• Be less than 19 years old
• Include the words “I Voted” or “Future Voter” somewhere in their design
• Meet the design requirements
• Agree to the terms and conditions, including providing a signed copy of the parental/legal guardian consent form, if under 18 (minors may not submit their own artwork)

Adult Category
This category is open to adults.
Artists must:
• Use the CaFÉ online submission platform
• Be a resident of the Kenai Peninsula Borough
• Be at least 19 years old
• Include the words “I Voted” somewhere in their design
• Meet the design requirements
• Agree to the terms and conditions