Madison fifth grader wins GOP’s ‘I Voted’ sticker contest

The Madison County Republican Party expanded its “I Voted” sticker competition in its second year with twice as many submissions as last year, Vice-Chairman Colleen Wise said.

“This was a huge success,” Wise said.

Emmy Gracyn Smith, a fifth grader at Madison Crossing Elementary, is this year’s winner. She was selected out of about 50 submissions.

“We received twice as many entries this year and it was very difficult to narrow it down,” Wise said.

The winning design will be used as the official “I Voted” sticker in the 2024 general election.

Second place went to Kate Neely, a seventh grader at Madison Middle School and her classmate Alaina Wells took third place.

The following are honorable mentions: Emma Wright, Vivie Claire Garletts, Nora Sullivan, Anna Taylor Killabrew, Kaylie Dany, and Abigail Woodard, all 7th graders at Madison Middle School, and Colin McMillan 5th grader at MRA. 

The winners were announced at a banquet at Ridgeland City Hall on Sept. 18, at 6 p.m.

“We had a wonderful packed reception,” Wise said.

Judges were U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, U.S. Michael Guest, Candidate for Congressional District 2 Ron Eller, State Chairman Mike Hurst, Candidate for Election Commissioner District 3 Joanne Pearson and Candidate for Election Commissioner District 5 Debbie Bergansky. 

Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee, Madison Alderman Guy Bowering, and Gluckstadt Mayor Walter Morrison presented the awards with Chairman Aaron Rice. 

Mahaffeys' Quality Printing did the printing of the stickers. 

The contest is open to all fifth, sixth, and seventh-grade students of Madison County.