CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town Clerk Marilyn Gomeau was disappointed at last year's town election turnout. Fewer than 100 voters cast ballots that day. 

 

She's been thinking of ways to encourage more participation and turned to the town's youngest residents. 

 

They might not be able to vote yet, she said, but it's never too early to get them interested, and then extend that excitement to their parents. 

 

Gomeau's idea was to involve the students at Clarksburg School through a contest to come up with the best "I voted" stickers. The top three have been printed and will be given out to voters in the coming elections. 

 

She and Linda LeWitt of the Board of Registrars said it was hard to come up with the best ones, "they were really very good." 

 

But one in particular stood out, created by Avery Marcil, which showed two hands, one Black and one white, creating a heart with an American flag. It states "Our Future Is in Your Hands."

 

"Her creation was wonderful. It speaks very loudly all about diversity, and that's what we talk about. We talk about diversity, and we all know, there's a lot of diversity in this world," Gomeau said in handing out certificates to the winners last week.