WILLIAMSBURG — Two young artists just designed the stickers that will go on hundreds of lapels and t-shirts this fall.
Williamsburg Mayor Douglas G. Pons announced the winners of the city’s 2026 Vote Sticker Design Contest during the July 9 City Council meeting, capping off a spring competition that put local student artwork on the ballot for this year’s elections.
Rose van der Veen, a rising eighth grader at Berkeley Middle School, won the “I Voted” category. Penny Springer, a rising fifth grader at Matthew Whaley Elementary School, took the “Future Voter” category. Their designs will appear on official election stickers handed out to voters and future voters throughout Williamsburg’s 2026 election cycle.
“Rose and Penny created designs that reflect the creativity and pride of Williamsburg’s young people, and we’re excited to share these designs with voters this fall,” Pons said in a statement.
Students fro Williamsburg-James City County schools submitted original artwork this spring for the two categories: an “I Voted” sticker for registered voters and a “Future Voter” sticker meant to plant the seeds of civic participation in younger residents.
The Williamsburg Public Art Council narrowed the field to finalists in each category, then handed the final call to the public through an online vote.
