There is a new “Future Voter” sticker in town!
If you visit a Durham County Board of Elections precinct this election, you will notice that there is a new addition to collection of Durham’s voting stickers. A summer contest for a new Durham “Future Voter” sticker, co-sponsored by the Durham County Board of Elections and Kids Voting, produced 3 finalists. The winning sticker design by Daniel Nobusch is available at all voting precincts this Fall for youngsters who accompany their parents to the polls. That sticker, plus the runners-up, can also be found in electronic version on Kids Voting Durham’s giphy channel and on Instagram and other platforms gif and sticker features using the search term #KVD or #DCoVotes.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the the winning sticker contest entries and read our interviews with the talented, civically-savvy young artists behind them.
Daniel Nobusch, Winning Design
Winning Future Voter Sticker by Daniel Nobusch
Daniel Nobusch, a 10th grader at Durham School of Technology at Hillside
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being a “future voter”?
Daniel: I haven't decided which party to support yet, but ultimately, I just want a better tomorrow for everyone. Even if a candidate has a bad social reputation, but is strong politically, I'm willing to wait and see what anyone has to offer.
Q: What inspired the particular design you created?
Daniel: . . .I ultimately decided on the old bull, which represented Durham best. So, I started designing, and I thought about how to incorporate all elements like the stars, colors, and bullhead together. I found a bullhead silhouette and started putting stars to make the shape of it and added lines to connect them. Then I had a bullhead. Then, I began to think about how to incorporate the colors. My dad gave me the idea that I should put the colors in the background but in the same ratio as the Durham flag/logo. For final touches, I decided to make the stars on the ears and the bull's nose tip to the Durham colors.
Q: Why do you think kids should be interested or involved in elections even before they turn 18?
Daniel: Children should be introduced to the political world at a young age, old enough to grasp the functions of various levels of government, including Congress and local county government. 18 years provides ample time for individuals to discover their identities and ambitions, including being prepared to vote for the benefit of all in America and its societies.
Lia Mitchell, Runner Up
Runner Up
Lia Mitchell, a 7th grader at Carolina Friends School
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being a “future voter”?
Lia: As far as being a "Future Voter," my mom and I always go vote together on Election Day, and it's a fun tradition for us, so I'm looking forward to that, even though they changed our polling location this year, which we are both a little bummed about. Looking ahead to when I'm actually old enough to vote, I'm excited to get to have a say in who's going to be an important figure in my country and make decisions that will shape my future, hopefully for the better!
Q: What inspired the particular design you created?
Lia: Regarding inspiration, I brainstormed images that I think of when I think of my city: A bull, obviously, and the steam for when the Durham Bulls sign lights up when players get a home run, the 7 stars are on the Durham flag (I learned they represent different parts of Durham's spirit and story), the water tower because it's such a recognizable landmark, and I chose the colors of the Durham flag to tie everything together.
Q: Why do you think kids should be interested or involved in elections even before they turn 18?
Lia: I think we kids should be interested and involved in elections because even if we can't vote yet, we can still get out there and spread the word and encourage people who are old enough to go vote by doing things like handing out flyers and making signs to get the word out. I've gone canvassing with my family (and my mom just informed me we will be going again in the next two months, THANKS MOM) and people always say how impressed they are that I'm out knocking on doors, but if we don't do it, who will?!
Ashlynn Gould, Runner Up
Runner Up
Ashlynn Gould, a 5th grader at Durham Academy
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being a “future voter”?
Ashlynn: I look forward to seeing how my vote can impact the election process whether that be for presidential elections or local elections.
Q: What inspired the particular design you created?
Ashlynn: I wanted to focus on specific landmarks and images that Durham County residents are familiar with and chose the county logo on the water tower and county flag, because they represent two of the most common images I see throughout the Bull City.
Q: Why do you think kids should be interested or involved in elections even before they turn 18?
Ashlynn: I believe it’s important to know what the election process is like so that when I’m 18 I have an understanding of how to vote and the importance of using my vote to make an impact.
