Community Voting Zine

Thank you for your interest in contributing to our zine focused on voting! We welcome submissions in a variety of formats and from all ages. Whether you are an artist, writer, or simply passionate about voting, your voice matters. Please review the guidelines below before submitting your work.

What is a zine?

a zine is a small-circulation, self-published work that's usually handmade or photocopied, offering creative freedom and personal expression. Zines foster community connection by amplifying the voices of individuals who may not be heard in mainstream media and, since they are often low-cost and easy to produce, zines make it possible for anyone to share their work, regardless of resources. Their DIY aesthetic and grassroots nature make them powerful tools for civic engagement and social justice.

Get creating …

Theme: All submissions must reflect the theme of voting and its connection to topics like civic engagement, health equity, or democracy. Do not include anything about particular candidates or political parties. See our prompts below.

Submission Size:

  • 5x8

  • JPEG or PNG with at least 300 DPI or a high quality PDF

  • The zine will be in portrait but you can submit in landscape too

Submission Formats: We encourage creative and diverse expressions of what voting means to you in any language you choose. Submissions can include

  • Written pieces (poetry, short essays, personal reflections): We aim to print in 14-size font for accessibility. Please keep to a 5x8 space (two pages are available for longer pieces).

  • Artwork (drawings, paintings, digital art, collage)

    Photography

  • Comics

  • If you have a different idea for your submission that doesn’t fit these categories, please reach out!

How to Submit: Email your submissions to zine@wagap.org with the subject line “Zine Submission – [Your Name]”.

  • Include: Your name, age (optional), and contact information. The title of your piece. You can also include a brief description (1-2 sentences) of your piece and its connection to voting. Attach your file.

All submissions must be received by midnight on October 4, 2024.

We are offering a $100 stipend for selected contributions. While the stipend is available, we are prioritizing stipends for community partners' efforts to ensure that we amplify diverse voices and underrepresented perspectives in this project. If you would like to be considered for a stipend or need a stipend to participate, please indicate this in your submission email along with your mailing address. We encourage submissions from all, regardless of stipend request, as we are committed to including a wide range of voices in the zine.

Prompts

My First Vote

  • Share your story of the first time you voted. What inspired you to vote? How did you feel? What did voting mean to you at that moment?

Why I Vote

  • Share why voting is important to you. What drives you to fill out your ballot? How does your vote make a difference in your life or community?

Voting Then and Now

  • Compare your experiences with voting over the years. How has the process changed for you? What are your thoughts on how voting has evolved or stayed the same? How do you hope it will change in the future?

Overcoming Voting Challenges

  • Share about a time you faced challenges when trying to vote. What obstacles did you face and how did you overcome them? What changes would you like to see to make voting easier for everyone?

Art of Democracy: Expressing Voting Stories Through Art

  • Create a piece of artwork (drawing, painting, collage, etc.) that represents what voting means to you. Use colors, symbols, and imagery to express your thoughts and feelings about democracy and civic engagement.

Future Voters

  • For children and teens, share what you think voting is and why you think voting is important. 

Voting for Change

  • Share a story about a time when voting led to a significant change in your community or personal life. What was the issue at stake? How did the outcome impact you or those around you?

 By submitting your work, you grant us permission to publish it in both digital and printed formats for this project now and in the future. You retain all rights to your work and are welcome to share it elsewhere. 

Questions? Please contact us at zine@wagap.org.  We’re here to help!

This is funded by RWJ's Storytelling Grant and organized by Washington Gorge Action Programs.

Help us spread the word! You can view a folder of images/printables here.

Partners

 

more soon