The Election Credibility Committee (ECC) of the League of Women Voters of Washington is proud to announce a compelling initiative aimed at fostering civic education among high school students—the Student Video Contest. This project presents a unique opportunity for young folks to create impactful 30-60 second videos, engaging their peers in understanding and advocating for election credibility in an informative and persuasive manner. The goal is to empower students to gain accurate information about voting and elections in Washington state, building a culture of knowledge-sharing with friends, family, and the broader public.

Washington high school students are invited to participate in the creation of videos focused on election protection and credibility within the state. The judging process, slated for the summer, will evaluate entries for both content and technical excellence, with winners to be announced in September. The winning videos will gain visibility on social media, various voting websites, and potentially even television. Notably, the student producers behind the winning entries will be rewarded with prize money.

Registration and submission for the contest began in November and will conclude on May 1, 2024. Interested participants can find detailed information and register here.

In a press release from December, the League of Women Voters of Washington, led by President Mary Coltrane, emphasized the significance of this initiative as an opportunity for high school students to deepen their understanding of election credibility. With the inclusion of 17-year-olds in the presidential primary voting process in March, the contest aims to inspire students to learn and share accurate information about Washington state voting and elections, building a sense of active civic engagement.

To acknowledge the hard work and excellence of the winning submissions, the ECC will award cash prizes to the 1st and 2nd place videos. Complete details about the contest, including rules and registration information, are available on the contest webpage. Registration remains open until midnight on May 1, 2024, marking the deadline for both completed registrations and the submission of videos. To support participants in their video production journey, tutorials and guidance will be accessible to all registered contestants, with training resources and in-person tutorials available on the official contest website.

The contest is sponsored by the LWVWA, a nonpartisan organization with a century-long commitment to education, voting, and democratic principles, the contest's judging panel comprises video professionals, election officials, and League members.

Reflecting on the success of the 2023 Student Video Contest, judges praised the winning video for its clarity in addressing voting eligibility and registration, as well as highlighting the critical issue of mis- or disinformation as a significant threat to voting integrity. The video was lauded for its balanced messaging, compelling visuals, and memorable filming angles.

For those wanting to view last year's winning entry, the video is available below.

Those interested in this year’s contest can view the Election Credibility Committee’s High School Video Contest website for more information.