Wood County Commissioner Blair Couch, back left, watches as Wood County Assessor John Kelly points to one of 17 entries created by local students for the Wood County “I Voted!” Sticker Contest being put on by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure, Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales and Wood County Commission Robert Tebay also made picks to choose the Top 3 submitted in the county. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — Local county officials gathered Thursday to pick the winner of the Wood County “I Voted!” Sticker Contest being put on by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office.

Wood County Commissioners Blair Couch and Bob Tebay, along with Wood County Assessor John Kelly, Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales and Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure, went through 17 entries created by area eighth-graders.

These original designs for the “I Voted!” stickers are meant to celebrate voter participation in West Virginia, organizers said.

The winners were First Place Winner – Isabella McCloy of Williamstown Middle/High School; Second Place Winner – Payton Binger of Williamstown Middle/High School; and Third Place Winner – Alayna Carpenter of Williamstown Middle/High School.

The contest is a chance to begin to get students thinking about the political process and the election, Gonzales said.

The top three picks out of 17 entries in the Wood County “I Voted!” Sticker Contest being put on by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. From left, first place, Isabella McCloy of Williamstown Middle/High School; second place, Payton Binger of Williamstown; and third place winner, Alayna Carpenter of Williamstown Middle/High School. McCloy’s entry will compete in a regional contest with 14 other counties. The winners of the four regional contests will compete, through online voting, for the winning design statewide. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“It gets the kids starting to think about a time when they will be able to register to vote,” he said. “When they become age eligible, they are interested and know a little bit about the voting process and encourage people to get out and vote and select their candidates.

“I think it is a good program and the Secretary of State’s office has worked really hard on it.”

McCloy’s entry, as the County Winner, will be submitted to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5.

The County Level Winners will be separated into four regions with each region selecting a winner by an anonymous group of judges, the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office reported.

Wood County is in Region 1 which makes up the northern part of the state and includes Brooke, Doddridge, Hancock, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wetzel and Wirt counties.

The four regional winners will be announced and online voting statewide will take place between Feb.16 to Feb. 27 at 4:30 p.m.

During Civics Learning Week, March 9-13, the West Virginia Secretary of State will announce the winner.

The winning design will be featured on voting stickers handed out in the winning student’s county during the 2026 Primary Election. Other counties may choose to use the winning sticker design or use a design from their own county.

“We are proud to partner with our local schools, the State Board of Education and our county clerks to promote this contest for eighth-grade student artists throughout the state,” said West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner.

In other business, county officials discussed a proposed law where any absentee ballots would have to arrive back by election day in order to be counted. Traditionally, the county has allowed absentee ballots to be counted if they are postmarked by election day.

Under the proposed law, it would not count if it is not received by Election Day.

“I think it should count,” Commission President Blair Couch said. “You are disenfranchising someone.”

Officials have traditionally urged people to mail in an absentee ballot as soon as they can. Canvassing occurs the Monday after an election that is usually held on a Tuesday.

One concern is the postal service has been taking longer to deliver mail with some things taking awhile to reach their destination. There were also concerns that even a properly postmarked absentee ballot could arrive after the canvassing had been completed.

In other business, the commission approved nominating Stacy DeCicco of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley to the Wood County Local Emergency Planning Committee.

“She is an amazing woman with a lot of energy,” Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said. “She makes good decisions.

“It is always nice for us to nominate someone who is a hard worker and works for the people of the county.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com