Artwork created by Abigail Wagner of Gladstone is one that was selected by a task force to proceed to public voting.

The practice of producing stickers printed with designs from artists of all ages to be distributed at polling places in Michigan began in 2024 at the advice of the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force (CSATF), which collaborates with the Michigan Secretary of State’s office. The amateur art quickly became a hit.

“We had no idea it would become a cultural phenomenon,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a press release.

This year, rules stated that “artwork must be original, non-AI generated, and not contain copyrighted or trademarked designs” and that “designs must include the phrase ‘I voted’ AND be nonpartisan in nature,” according to the State of Michigan’s website.

A winning sticker collected from the last election is taped to a whiteboard in the Daily Press newsroom. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

There are three categories: art produced by elementary and middle school students, designs by high schoolers, and general Michiganders.

The state reported that over 2,000 submissions — four times the number of entries from the first contest in 2024 — were received by the May 1 deadline.

“The CSATF selected 30 in each category to move forward for public voting. Each qualifying design was screened for AI and copyrighted material before public voting,” said the Michigan Department of State.

One of the designs in the running in the general category was designed by Abigail Wagner, a resident of the City of Gladstone.

Online public voting began on June 1 and continues through June 30 at 11:59 p.m.

To vote, people must access a digital form online. From www.michigan.gov/ivotedsticker, clicking on the box that says “Public voting is open now…” with an arrow will direct visitors to the survey. Participants are allowed to vote for up to three designs in each category.

As a general, non-student entry, Wagner’s design appears on the final page.

Her artwork shows the state of Michigan decorated with a lighthouse, bear, deer, tent, campfire and waterfall in the Upper Peninsula; and a windmill, skier, apples, car, cherries, robin and a farmstead in the Lower.

“Congratulations to Abigail on this outstanding achievement,” said the City of Gladstone in a release. “We are proud to see her creativity and artistic talent representing our community so well.”

After public voting on the sticker designs closes at the end of the month, “winners will be announced over the summer and will receive special recognition from the Michigan Department of State,” state contest rules.

The final collection will be available for clerks to order ahead of the general election in November.