Contest Rules

1.    All Massachusetts students grades 4-12 (public, private, home schooled) are eligible
2.    All Massachusetts residents and students 18-24 years old are eligible.
3.    Essay must be submitted by individual writers only.
4.    Only electronically submitted essays will be accepted.
       Submit essays to contest@lwvma.org. Use the submission form or send by email.
5.    Entries must be 300 words or fewer for grade 4-5 essays.
        500 words or fewer for grades 6-8 essays.
        500 words or fewer for grades 9-12 essays.
        750 words or fewer for essays written by 18-24 years old.

        (Titles and citations, which are optional, are not part of the official word count.)
6.    Words in titles or contact information do not count toward word total.

7.    The decision of the judges and the League of Women Voters Citizen
        Education Fund is final.
8.    Writers are encouraged to review spelling, grammar, and punctuation before
       submitting their essay.
9.    All entries are the property of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
       Citizen Education Fund.
10.  Receipt of essays will be confirmed by email. If you do not receive confirmation
       e-mail within a week of submitting the essay, please call the League office at
       617-523-2999 or 800-882-1649.
11.  Deadline for submission is March 4, 2008.

12.  Winners should be available to read their essays at the Making Democracy Work

       Awards event in Faneuil Hall, Boston on April 13, 2008.