League of Women Voters of Sarasota County sponsoring 2023 ‘YVOTE’ contest for high school students

Goal is to emphasize importance of voting

The Education Action Team of the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County (LWVSRQ), in partnership with the Sarasota County School District, is sponsoring an essay, poster and video contest, “YVOTE,” for high school students who will share their thoughts on the importance of voting, the League has announced.

All students in Sarasota County’s public charter and district public high schools are eligible to enter the contest, regardless of whether they are yet able to register to vote, the release points out. Students will work independently on their entries, the release adds; the competition is not part of their 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, the release says. Second place winners in each category will receive $300, it continues, and third place winners in every 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 release explains.

The deadline for submissions is Oct. 17 at 11:59 p.m. The winners will be announced on Nov. 8, “on social media and elsewhere,” the release adds.

“Essay submissions should be no longer than 500 words,” the release points out, and video entries cannot exceed 3 minutes. Posters can be in any one of the three standard sizes: 24 inches by 36 inches (large), 16 by 24 (medium), and 11 by 17 (small).

“We are looking for creative, effective, and inspirational entries that capture issues and personal experiences,” the release explains. “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,” the release says.

An application to enter the contest should be sent with the subject heading “YVOTE CONTEST APPLICATION” to education@lwvsrq.org.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization “with a history of promoting informed voter participation and enhanced citizen engagement,” the release notes. LWVSRQ members “have been active for many years, conducting voter registration drives and providing voter education opportunities,” the release continues. “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 release adds.