SB 2634 creates the Mississippi “I Voted” Sticker Contest Act and directs the Secretary of State to run an annual statewide contest beginning in January 2026 to design the state’s official “I voted” sticker. The contest is divided into four categories: elementary school, middle school, high school, and adult submissions. Participants must be Mississippi residents, submit original work, include the phrase “I voted,” and avoid partisan content, copyrighted material, plagiarism, and AI-generated designs. The bill also requires parental permission for contestants age 18 or younger and limits each contestant to one submission per year.
The Secretary of State must create an online submission platform, review entries for compliance, select the top three designs in each category, and allow the public to vote on the winners. The winning designs may be used as Mississippi’s official voting sticker for two years after selection. The Secretary of State is also authorized to adopt additional rules and regulations to administer the contest. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill would add a new statutory program under the Secretary of State’s election administration authority, but it does not change voter eligibility, ballot procedures, or election outcomes. Its legal effect is to authorize and structure a recurring state-run design contest, establish submission and review rules, and permit the use of selected artwork as official voting stickers for a limited period. It also grants the Secretary of State rulemaking authority and a broad license to use submitted designs for non-commercial purposes.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears largely administrative and ceremonial rather than controversial. Its tone is positive and civic-minded, emphasizing public participation, youth engagement, and a statewide branding effort around voting. The inclusion of anti-partisan and originality requirements suggests an effort to keep the contest neutral and broadly acceptable.
Contention
No committee transcripts or vote history were provided, so there is no documented opposition or support from legislators in the available record. Potential points of contention inherent in the bill include the Secretary of State’s discretion to reject entries deemed inappropriate, controversial, or sensationalistic; the prohibition on AI-generated artwork; and the non-commercial perpetual use license granted to the state for submitted designs. These provisions could raise questions about subjectivity in judging, technology restrictions, and participant rights, but no specific stakeholder objections are recorded here.