Student winners of ‘I Voted’ design contest announced
Stickers available during early voting May 4 and at polling locations
– The San Luis Obispo County Elections Office announced the winners of its 2026 “I Voted” sticker design competition, recognizing students from local schools.
Winning designs were created by Del Mar Elementary fourth grader Brynn Smart and Arroyo Grande High School freshman Annie Schwent. Officials selected the designs from more than 40 entries, with votes cast by the mayors of the county’s seven cities.
The mayors also selected a “Yo voté” design by Pacheco Elementary third grader Aurelia Shua and a “Future Voter” sticker by Sara Van Horn, an Atascadero resident who is homeschooled through Abide Christian School.
“The ‘I Voted’ sticker design contest is one of the most fun things we get to do,” said Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano. “We love seeing students get civically involved early, and the voters really love getting to pick up one of the ‘special stickers’ each election. We get tons of requests for them.”
All four designs will be available during early voting at elections offices in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero beginning May 4. Officials will also distribute the stickers at polling locations throughout San Luis Obispo County on Election Day, June 2, and again on Nov. 3.
The competition included two age divisions, grades 3 through 6 and grades 7 through 12. The “Yo voté” and “Future Voter” categories were open to students in grades 3 through 12.
Schwent’s design features the state bird waving an American flag, while Smart’s design includes a heart and flag. The “Yo voté” design features a bald eagle head against red and white stripes, and the “Future Voter” sticker also includes a flag.
The clerk-recorder is visiting Del Mar Elementary and Arroyo Grande High School to present each student winner with a framed version of their design. Cano also plans to visit Pacheco Elementary and Abide Christian School.
