SLO County Elections Unveils 2026 Sticker Design Contest Winners
Author: Erin Clausen
Date: 4/3/2026 8:57 AM
After receiving more than double the number of entries submitted in 2024, SLO County's mayors weighed the choices and selected four new student sticker designs for SLO County polling places.
Once again, the votes are in and the SLO County Elections Office has two new official “I Voted” sticker designs created by local students. The winning designs, by Del Mar Elementary fourth grader Brynn Smart and Arroyo Grande High School freshman Annie Schwent, were selected from more than 40 entries, and the votes were cast by the mayors of SLO County’s seven cities. The mayors also selected a “Yo voté” design created by third grader Aurelia Shua of Pacheco Elementary, as well as a “Future Voter” sticker designed by Sara Van Horn, who is a resident of Atascadero and 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 so many requests for them.”
All four of the new stickers will be available at both the San Luis Obispo and Atascadero Elections Offices beginning May 4, and they will be distributed at all polling locations throughout the county on Election Day, June 2, and again on November 3.
There were two age divisions, grades 3-6 and grades 7-12. The “Yo voté” and “Future Voter” entries were open to all students from 3rd to 12th.
While Schwent’s design features the state bird waving an American flag, Smart’s “I Voted” sticker includes a patriotic heart and flag design. The “Yo Voté” design includes a bald eagle head against red and white stripes and Van Horn’s “Future Voter” sticker also features a flag.
The Clerk-Recorder visited Del Mar Elementary and AGHS yesterday to surprise the winners in person and to deliver to each student winner a framed version of their sticker design. Cano is planning a visit to Pacheco on a different day to honor Shua alongside her classmates and will host Van Horn for a visit at the Elections Center.
