Federal Voting Assistance Program
Voting Slogan and Poster Contest Winners!
May 23, 2011 – The Federal Voting Assistance Program is pleased to announce the winners of its biennial Voting Slogan and Poster Contests. The winning slogans and poster will be part of the FVAP’s 2012-2013 outreach campaign, which focuses on increasing voter awareness among citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act – members of the Uniformed Services and all U.S. citizens residing outside the United States.
This year, the Department received more than 1,400 slogans and 150 posters from all branches of the Uniformed Services, the State Department, local election officials and citizens living around the world via the Challenge.gov website. A panel of judges, including Members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, has selected their favorite posters and slogans based on originality and motivational value. These results were combined with a public vote held on Challenge.gov. The winners will be featured in the 2012-2013 Voting Assistance Guide, on motivational posters, and other FVAP publications.
The winning entries in the Slogan Contest were:
- “Over here, over there, don’t despair. Vote!” - Ms. Dora Rodriguez, U.S. Marine Corps.
- “It’s a freedom that you defend-Vote!” - SGM Bob Pitman, U.S. Army (Retired).
Receiving Honorable Mention were:
- “Be an Absentee Voter, Not an Absentee Citizen, VOTE” - Ms. Cathy Neri, U.S. Navy.
- “Absentee Vote, Made in America” - SGT Andrew Saife, U.S. Army.
- “You’re away from home, your voice shouldn’t be. Vote.” - LTJG Katy Bock, U.S. Navy.
The winning poster, entitled “Baggage Claim”, was created by Stephen Gentry of the Larimer County, Colorado Elections Department. The poster can be seen at: Challenge.gov winner. 2d Lt Matt Jurcak, U.S. Air Force, won an honorable mention for his poster, which can be seen at: Challenge.gov.
The winners have won a trip to Washington, DC. Honorable mentions will receive a certificate of congratulations from the Department.
Bob Carey, Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, congratulates the winners and all those who submitted slogans and posters to help spread the message to VOTE!
Additional Information
FVAP’s works to ensure military and overseas voters are able to cast a valid ballot, which is counted in the election, from anywhere in the world as easily as if they were at a polling place. FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach FVAP toll-free from 67 countries by using the toll-free numbers listed at www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html.
