San Mateo residents of all ages can design the official "I Voted" sticker for the Nov. 3 general election, with submissions due Sept. 30.

The city's Generation Voter program is running the contest for the second time this year, according to the city's contest page. Winning designs from a similar competition appeared on stickers at voter centers across San Mateo during the June 2 primary election.

Each entry must include the words "I Voted" or "Future Voter," stay politically neutral and use only original artwork. No AI-generated images, stock photos or borrowed designs are allowed.

The Youth Activity Council, a group of San Mateo high school students, will pick one winner from each of five age categories: ages 0–7, 8–12, 13–17, 18–59 and 60 and older. Those groupings could shift depending on the number of entries, according to the contest page.

Winners get a custom sweatshirt featuring their design. The San Mateo City Council will also recognize winning artists at a public meeting.

The winning stickers will be printed and available at all San Mateo voting locations and City Hall before Election Day.

How to enter

Residents can download an official template from the city's website or pick up a printed copy at San Mateo City Hall, any recreation center or a library branch.

Completed designs can be submitted by email to [email protected]. Include your name, age, phone number, email, home address, school and sweatshirt size. Hard copies can be dropped off at the City Clerk's counter at City Hall or the San Mateo Public Library main branch. Entries can also be mailed to City of San Mateo, City Clerk's Office, 330 W. 20th Ave., San Mateo, CA 94403.

The contest is open only to San Mateo residents. Residents of Burlingame, Hillsborough, Millbrae and Foster City have separate submission contacts listed on the city's website.

What's on the ballot

The Nov. 3 general election includes San Mateo City Council races in Districts 1, 3 and 5, plus two citywide ballot measures: Measure H, a quarter-cent sales tax, and Measure F, a set of charter amendments. Early voting begins Oct. 5.

Generation Voter, known as Gen V, is a subcommittee of the Youth Activity Council. The student-led group has organized voter registration and pre-registration drives at city events and during lunch periods at local high schools, according to the city's Gen V page.

Coming up

  • Sept. 30: Sticker contest submission deadline
  • Oct. 5: Early voting opens at San Mateo Vote Centers (9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily through Nov. 2)
  • Nov. 3: Election Day (polls open 7 a.m.–8 p.m.)