JACKSON, Miss. – Secretary of State Michael Watson announces the 2025 Promote the Vote (PTV) program materials are now available through the Secretary of State's website.

This year's theme "Winners Vote!" encourages students to see voting as a team sport.

"Instilling pride for voting and civic education at an early age is extremely important. Through the 'Winners Vote!' theme, our goal is to equate enthusiasm for athletics with elections. We want all Mississippi youth to grow their excitement for voting," said Secretary Michael Watson.

PTV is the Secretary of State's comprehensive K-12 voter education program open to all public, private, parochial, and home schools. This year's program consists of a mock election as well as art, essay, poetry, and video production contests.

The PTV art contest is available for students in grades K-12th, and the PTV essay and poetry contests are available to students in grades 6th-12th. The PTV video production contest is available to students in grades 9th-12th.

All art, essay, poetry, and video production submissions are due December 5, 2025. Winners and their teachers will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in Jackson in early 2026. Due to the generosity of the Mississippi Economic Council, cash prizes will be given to all winners.

The PTV Mock Election is open to all students who are enrolled in a Mississippi school or program registered for Promote the Vote. Students will "vote" for their favorite Mississippi football player on October 14, 2025, or Mock Election Day.

Anyone wishing to participate in the PTV program must register online. Registration is free, easy, and only takes a few minutes to complete. Upon registering, a confirmation email with the 2025 materials will be delivered to the email provided.

"I Voted" Sticker Contest

This year, anyone 18 years and older who is registered to vote in Mississippi will have the opportunity to participate in PTV through the new "I Voted" sticker contest. Mississippians are encouraged to design and submit artwork to be used as the "I Voted" sticker for all 82 counties during the 2026 election cycle.

All submissions for the "I Voted" sticker contest will be due October 31, 2025.

If you have any questions or need assistance registering for the PTV contests, please contact our Communications & Publications Division at PTV@sos.ms.gov or 601-359-6344.

For more information about PTV or to register to become a participating school, visit sos.ms.gov/PTV.