Voters to wear young artist’s work

Special to the Courier

Bastrop County’s next official ballot box sticker is set to feature artwork by seventh grade homeschool student Tyler Hargis, who took first place in the Election Department’s second “I Voted” Sticker Contest.

Win ner s were announced last week, with Haydn Syder, a Smithville High School senior, earning second place and Summer Brending, a Smithville High junior, finishing third.

In the county’s first “Future Voter” Sticker Contest, Braylin Miles, a Smithville Elementary School fifth grader, claimed the top spot. Second place went to Audrey Johnson, a second grade student at Good Shepherd Lutheran School, and third place to Jesse Leal, a third grader at Mina Elementary School.

“The Bastrop County Elections Depar tment was excited to once again encourage students to get excited about the electoral process,” said Elections Administrator Kristin Miles. “Thank you to all 100-plus students who submitted a design. We look forward to increasing engagement in future sticker design contests.”

The first-place designs will debut during the May 2025 election period and be distributed to voters at all early voting and Election Day locations for the 2025-26 cycle.

Judges selected winning entries based on theme, uniqueness of design and artistry, according to the department.

All top 10 winners in each contest were honored during Commissioners Court Feb. 10. The additional finalists, ranging from kindergarten through high school, hail from across Bastrop County schools and homeschool settings.

Judges included Curtis Cour tney, Republican Party Chair; Dock Jackson, Democratic Party Chair; Carol Spencer, Presiding Judge of the Ballot Board; Stephanie White, Alternate Judge of the Ballot Board; and Carl Rees, a Ballot Board member.