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PHOTO BY CLARE JENSEN

WINNING DESIGN. Fourth-grader Melissa Wells stands next to her winning “Voting is Cool” poster as Mayor Bill Baarsma hands her a certificate of recognition for her accomplishment Oct. 13. Melissa’s poster design is included in more than 300,000 voters pamphlets, 10 billboards and on the side of a Pierce Transit bus.

Fourth-grader tells county ‘voting is cool’

By Clare Jensen

It’ll be a few years before Melissa Wells can cast her ballot in any county, state or national elections, but that doesn’t mean she can’t voice her opinion.

Melissa has become an integral part of this election season because her excitement for voting will be seen by just about everyone throughout Pierce County.

Melissa, a fourth-grader at Lister Elementary School in Tacoma, was selected as the winner of the county’s “Voting is Cool” poster contest.

She was one of hundreds of students in kindergarten through sixth grade who created posters aimed at reminding adult voters of their duty to make it to the polls Nov. 4.

Melissa used an image of a ballot and an American flag as the basis for her poster.  Phrases reminding adults to vote, and the importance of voting, such as “Vote – your vote counts,” pepper the red, white and blue starred background.

“When you vote, it helps you say what you want to say, and you help make a decision,” Melissa said. And since Melissa can’t use her vote as her voice at 9 years old, she’s glad she can have a voice through her artwork. “It’s really cool, it helps people know that voting is cool, and it’s really exciting too!”

Her image can be seen in more than 300,000 Pierce County voter pamphlets, 10 billboards and one Pierce Transit bus for the remainder of election season.

Melissa was honored at her school Oct. 13 for her accomplishment and received the attention of local dignitaries for her work. On Melissa’s behalf, the school received an American and Washington State flag – each flown over the respective capitol buildings, as well as a pizza party for the entire school.

Josh Larson, president of the Puyallup New Car Dealers Association who selects the winner of the poster contest, said Melissa’s work was chosen because of her original concept and independent work.

The poster contest is part of the Pierce County auditor’s youth voting education campaign, which reaches out to school districts through a voter registration curriculum. Since 2000, the school outreach program has educated nearly 100,000 students on the process of registering and the importance of voting.

“They (students) then become the ambassadors,” said County Auditor Pat McCarthy.

Melissa is a prime example of planting the seed in young people to grow up and vote. At only half the age of a legal voter, she can’t wait for the opportunity to make a check in her first ballot box, but in the meantime, she’s glad she can help remind voters who are less enthusiastic about making a trip to their polling stations next month.

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