Austin County Tax Assessor and Election Office, under the direction of Kim Rinn, is pleased to announce the winners of the county’s first “Future Voter” and “I Voted” sticker design contest. The Austin County sticker contest was established to encourage civic engagement and creativity among local students. Open to all students in grades K–12 across the county, including those enrolled in public, private, or homeschool programs, the contest features two categories: “Future Voter” for grades K–5 and “I Voted” for grades 6–12. Entries are evaluated by a panel of judges on theme, uniqueness, and artistry, with finalists notified by the Elections Department and winners formally recognized during Commissioners Court.
2025 Contest Winners
Future Voter (Grades K–5):
- 1st Place – Kenley Ross, Sealy Elementary
- 2nd Place – Audrey Carroll, Maggie B. Selman Elementary
- 3rd Place – Kenley Ross, Sealy Elementary
I Voted (Grades 6–12):
- 1st Place – Brookley Bettis, Bellville Junior High
- 2nd Place – Megan Ondruch, Sealy High School
- 3rd Place – Hunter Follis, Sealy High School
Winners were honored with plaques during Commissioners Court. More than 200 students from across the county participated, with grades K–5 entering the “Future Voter” category and grades 6–12 competing in the “I Voted” contest. Judges praised the students’ creativity, imagination, and artistic skill. The winning designs will be printed and distributed to voters throughout the 2026 election season.
Voting stickers are not new to elections. The most iconic design — the white oval with a waving American flag and the words “I Voted” — was created in 1987 by Janet Boudreau, who led Independent Tabulation (later Intab), an election supply business in North Carolina. While Boudreau did not invent the first sticker, her design became the most recognized and widely adopted version across the United States. Austin County’s own stickers have quickly gained popularity among voters. Many collect them year after year, and due to demand, additional print runs have been required in past election cycles.
