League of Women Voters

Promote Texas Voting 

LWV-TSC High School Video Contest

 The League of Women Voters of Tyler/Smith County invites all high school students in Smith County to enter a video contest "Promote Texas Voting." The project calls for each entrant to produce a 30-second public service video announcement (PSA) about the importance of voting.

The contest will name three winners, whose work will be shown on local television, cable, and websites. All winners will also receive cash prizes, and their work will be entered in a statewide contest as well. The deadline for entering is June 1, 2012.

Texas needs all the help it can get in encouraging voters. The state ranks last in the country in terms of the percentage of people who actually vote compared to those who are eligible to vote.  

Rules for

Promote Texas Voting

Video Contest

 Who can enter

• The contest is open to all students enrolled in Smith County, Texas, high schools as of January 15, 2012.
• Students may work alone or in teams.
• Although adults may play an advisory role, students must conceive the ideas and do the work of producing the video themselves.

 How to create the video

• Contestants are free to use any graphic devices they wish - stop motion, animation, other in the creation of their videos.
• Entries must clearly relate to the importance of voting - past, present, future - in a nonpartisan way
• PSA videos can be no longer than 30 seconds.

How and when to submit entries

Send videos and application form(s) to Promote Texas Voting via email to peggydowning@live.com

or on a DVD to the following address:

LWV-Tyler/Smith County, P.O. Box 6271, Tyler, Texas 75711.

• Entries must be received by 5:00 pm on  June 1, 2012.
• Winners will be announced on or before July 4, 2012.
• Creators must fully complete and sign the application. Incomplete application forms will disqualify entries.

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Pointers for

Promote Texas Voting

Video Contest

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged on a scale of 1 to 10 by the following four criteria:

• Overall Impact (educational, inspiring, persuasive) - 40% - 4 points
• Memorable Content and Delivery - 20% - 2 points
• Clear Message - 20% - 2 points 
• Creativity - 20% - 2 points

 No-No Rules

 Videos will be disqualified if they break any of the following "No-No" Rules.

-Videos may not have been entered in other contests or won other awards previously.
-Videos must not support or demean any political party or person.
-Use of images, music, and other works in the public domain may be incorporated into videos. However, materials that infringe on the rights of any third party may not be used unless consent has been obtained.
-The video must not contain brand names or trademarks except those related to the League of Women Voters or to national nonprofit, nonpartisan service programs.
-The video must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, defamatory, slanderous, or libelous in the views of the judges.
-The video must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual.
-The video must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to Texas laws or regulations.

Prizes for winners

◊Winning entries will be distributed via television, cable, and the Internet across Texas.
◊Winning entries will be placed on the LWV-TSC website.
◊Winners will receive praise, publicity, and cash prizes.

PR permission

By entering this contest, the entrants grant permission for their videos to be transmitted by TV, radio, and/or cable as public service announcements, to be added to the LWV-TSC, and LWV-Texas, and other websites, and to other uses of the video to encourage voter registration and voting.

Contest Contact

Address questions and comments about the Video Contest to the Project Chair:

Name: Peggy Downing  

Email address: peggydowning@live.com