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South San Francisco 2026 Election Sticker Contest Finalists (Erin O'Brien, Business Program Manager)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Cultural Arts Commission by motion approve the recommendation of shortlisted artists for the City's 2026 Election Sticker Contest
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In June 2026, the City Manager's Office launched a sticker contest for the November 2026 elections. A call went out to South San Francisco residents, encouraging artists of all ages to submit a design for consideration of the 2026 "I Voted" sticker. The contest was constructed with two contest categories: "I Voted in SSF" (for artists 18 years and older) and "Future SSF Voter" (for artists 17 years and younger). The contest was advertised through various channels including newsletters, social media platforms, City's website, and flyers. The contest guidelines included the following parameters:
* Open to South San Francisco residents only
* One original design per person
* Stickers may only include the words "I Voted in SSF" or "Future SSF Voter"
* Designs must be politically neutral
* Artwork may be hand-drawn or digital
* A.I. generated artwork is not allowed
* Designs must fit within a 2-inch circle
At the entry deadline, on July 24, 2026, the City received 17 submittals for the "I Voted in SSF" category and 10 entries for the "Future SSF Voter" category. Staff worked with both the Youth Art Programs subcommittee and the Art Gallery subcommittee to shortlist the design proposals. The goal was to identify three submittals to move forward to the public poll. Each subcommittee was asked to complete a survey identifying their top 5 choices; the Youth Art Programs subcommittee ranked the "Future SSF Voter" category, while the Art Gallery subcommittee ranked the "I Voted in SSF" category. Points were allotted according to their rankings:
* 1st choice: 5 points
* 2nd choice: 4 points
* 3rd choice: 3 points
* 4th choice: 2 points
* 5th c...
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