Burlingame’s Generation Voter is holding a “I voted” sticker contest to get youth involved in local elections.
Generation Voter, comprised of youth interns and the City Clerk Meaghan Hassel-Shearer, will select at least three sticker designs for the Presidential Primary Election March 3, and the Presidential Election Nov. 8. The city will distribute the stickers at all the voting locations in Burlingame and City Hall. Hassel-Shearer said the goal is to get teens and youth groups involved and registered early for elections through forums and activities like the sticker contest.
“The goal is that we want the kids to take an interest in local elections, not just national elections. Generation Voter provides information on registering, voting and getting involved locally,” Hassel-Shearer said.
The contest is for any Burlingame resident 18 and under. The sticker design must contain the words “I Voted.” Contestants can create their designs on the page provided on the city’s website or the computer. Once completed, sticker designs can be mailed or dropped off at the City Clerk’s Office at 501 Primrose Road, Burlingame. Submissions can also be emailed to the city clerk until the contest closes Dec. 16.
The sticker contest began before the 2022 election, and Hassel-Shearer said it reeled in more than 200 entries, of which four were selected and given out on Election Day. Generation Voter is an initiative Hassel-Shearer adopted shortly after the 2020 election when two Burlingame High School students and sisters, Ava Giere and Ella Giere, came up with the project after hearing from friends at school that they wanted to vote but didn’t know how. Hassel-Shearer was introduced to the Giere sisters and felt it would be impactful to help involve high school students in local politics.
Hassel-Shearer said Generation Voter holds various forums and booths at city events yearly to spread information regarding voter registration, measures and propositions.
Hassel-Shearer said the initiative has been successful. More than 350 teens have registered to vote in Burlingame through Generation Voter, and San Mateo also adopted the initiative.
“Our major push is to inform the kids that they can preregister at 16 years old,” Hassel-Shearer said.
Visit the city’s website for more information on the contest, or follow @generationvoter on Instagram for updates.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.