Donate
Donate

Terms and Conditions

COURIER Voting Inspiration Stories Sweepstakes

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. VOTING, REGISTERING TO VOTE, OR PROVIDING PROOF OF VOTING IS NOT REQUIRED TO ENTER OR WIN. OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND D.C. WHO ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND OF THE LEGAL AGE OF MAJORITY AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. U.S. LAW GOVERNS THIS SWEEPSTAKES. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

1. ELIGIBILITY

The COURIER Voting Inspiration Stories Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open only to persons who, as of the date of entry and, if a winner, as of the date of prize fulfillment, are legal residents of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and who are 18 years of age or older and of the legal age of majority in the jurisdiction in which the entrant resides.

Persons who, as of the date of entry and, if a winner, as of the date of prize fulfillment, are employees of Courier Newsroom, Inc. (“Sponsor”) or any of Sponsor’s parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising or promotion agencies, or members of the immediate family or household of any such employee, are not eligible.

No entrant is required to vote, register to vote, support any candidate or political party, or disclose their voting preferences to enter or win.

Eligibility determinations will be made by Sponsor in its discretion and will be final and binding. U.S. law governs this Sweepstakes. Void where prohibited by law.

2. HOW TO ENTER

The entry period for the Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 19, 2026, and continues through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 23, 2026 (the “Entry Period”). No purchase is necessary.

During the Entry Period, eligible participants may enter through the designated submission form linked in newsletters, websites, and social media accounts operated by COURIER and its participating state newsrooms.

To enter, participants must:

  1. Complete the official submission form, providing their name, valid email address, and state of residence.
  2. Submit one original selfie-style video, 15–60 seconds long, featuring themselves discussing their inspiration for or perspective on voting. The video must comply with any format requirements and other technical specifications provided in connection with the entry form. The video must be shot “selfie”-style, i.e., the video must primarily consist of footage of the entrant recorded by the entrant, generally holding a camera, smartphone or similar device at arms’ length or using a selfie stick or similar tool.
  3. Agree to these Official Rules and the applicable video submission terms.

Participants are invited to share stories of their voting experiences or inspiration for voting, but actual participation in an election is not a condition of entry. Participants may submit videos regardless of whether they have voted, intend to vote, or are registered to vote.

Each eligible participant who submits a video in accordance with these Official Rules will receive one entry into the Sweepstakes. Submission of multiple videos, use of multiple email addresses, or entries through multiple COURIER newsroom channels will not result in additional entries.

Video submission requirements

Submitted videos must:

  • Be original content created by the entrant, who must possess the rights necessary to submit and license the video.
  • Feature the entrant or discussing their inspiration for or perspective on voting.
  • Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including restrictions on filming at polling places and protecting ballot secrecy.
  • Not contain any unauthorized recording or image of any voter, election worker or private individual.
  • Not include unlawful, threatening, defamatory, harassing, sexually explicit, violent, dangerous, indecent, obscene, or unlawful conduct or behavior.

Each submitted video must not contain any material that violates or infringes upon the rights of any third party, including without limitation any copyright, trademark or right of privacy or publicity, or that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to any applicable law or regulation, or the use of which by the Licensees (as defined below) as permitted pursuant to these Official Rules would require a license or permission from or payment to any third party;

Videos must not be filmed where recording is prohibited, including restricted areas of polling locations. Entrants are encouraged to record videos at home or at another location where filming is legally permitted.

By submitting a video, the entrant represents and warrants that the entrant has complied with all of the foregoing requirements and has obtained all permissions, licenses and consents that are necessary for the submission of the video and to the use by the Licensees of the video as permitted pursuant to these Official Rules. 

Sponsor may reject submissions that do not comply with these requirements.

General entry terms

All entries must be completed and received by Sponsor by the end of the Entry Period. Entry times will be determined using Sponsor’s computer. The entrant will be responsible for time rates and data charges, if any, charged by the entrant’s internet or mobile service provider.

All entries are subject to verification. Proof of submission does not constitute proof of an eligible entry.

Sponsor will have the right, in its discretion, to require proof of identity and/or eligibility in a form acceptable to Sponsor, including, without limitation, government-issued photo identification. Failure to provide such proof to the satisfaction of Sponsor in a timely manner may result in disqualification. No entrant will be required to provide a completed ballot, voting record, or other proof that they voted.

3. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION

Following the conclusion of the Entry Period, six potential prize winner(s) will be selected in a random drawing conducted by Sponsor or its agent from among all eligible entries received during the Entry Period.

The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Entry Period.

Potential winners will be notified by email, sent to the email address provided during entry. Potential winners will be notified on or about Oct. 30, 2026.

Each potential winner must respond within 72 hours of Sponsor’s initial notification attempt.

Each potential winner is subject to verification of eligibility and may, in Sponsor’s discretion, be required to complete, sign, and return to Sponsor an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability and, if legally permissible, a Publicity Release, and any other documentation provided by Sponsor in connection with verification of the potential winner’s eligibility and confirmation of the releases and grant of rights set forth in these Official Rules, as applicable (“Winner Verification Documents”), within three days of attempted delivery of same.

Each potential winner may also, in Sponsor’s discretion, be required to complete and return to Sponsor an IRS Form W-9 or other applicable tax documentation within three days of attempted delivery of same. Verification of a potential winner’s eligibility may also include, without limitation, a background investigation.

If a potential winner cannot be reached, does not respond within 72 hours of the initial notification attempt, fails to complete, sign, and return any required Winner Verification Documents or IRS Form W-9 or other applicable tax documentation within three days of attempted delivery, does not otherwise comply with these Official Rules, or cannot accept the prize as awarded for any reason, then the potential winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner may, at Sponsor’s discretion, be selected from among the remaining eligible entries.

4. PRIZE

Six prize(s) are available in the Sweepstakes.

Each prize will consist of Visa® eGift Card, with an approximate retail value of $25.

The total approximate retail value of all prizes is $150.

All prize details not expressly specified in these Official Rules will be determined by Sponsor.

The prize(s) will be awarded if properly claimed. No substitution, cash redemption, or transfer of the right to receive the prize is permitted, except in the discretion of Sponsor, which has the right to substitute the prize with a prize or prize component of equal or greater monetary value selected by Sponsor in its discretion.

Gift cards are subject to card issuer’s terms and conditions.

The prize consists only of the item expressly specified in these Official Rules. All expenses or costs associated with the acceptance or use of the prize are the responsibility of the winner. 

All applicable federal, state, and local taxes on the value of the prize are the responsibility of the winner. An IRS Form 1099 will be issued if required by law.

Each prize is awarded “as is” and without any warranty, except as required by law. In no event will more than the number of prizes stated in these Official Rules be awarded.

5. VIDEO SUBMISSIONS AND GRANT OF RIGHTS

By submitting a video in connection with the Sweepstakes, each entrant represents and warrants that they created the submitted content or otherwise possess all rights and permissions necessary to authorize its use.

By submitting a video in connection with the sweepstakes, each entrant irrevocably grants Sponsor and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates and agents, and the successors, assigns, and licensees of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Licensees”) a nonexclusive, royalty-free, license to reproduce, publish, display, distribute, edit, excerpt, caption, adapt, and otherwise use the submitted video, together with the entrant’s name, likeness, voice, biographical information, and statements attributed to the entrant (“Personality Rights”), in perpetuity, throughout the world, in all media and formats whether now or later known or developed, including without limitation in connection with Sponsor’s editorial content, websites, newsletters, social media channels, and related promotional activities, without further notice or additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.

This license includes, without limitation, the right to:

  • Repost videos on COURIER and participating newsroom social media channels.
  • Publish submissions in newsletters and on websites.
  • Incorporate excerpts into video compilations and other editorial content.
  • Make technical or editorial changes, including trimming, resizing, captioning, and formatting for different platforms.
  • Promote published content featuring submitted videos.

Sponsor is not obligated to publish or otherwise use any submitted video.

Entrants retain ownership of their original submissions.

Any determination by Sponsor to publish a submitted video is independent of entry into the Sweepstakes and does not affect an entrant’s odds of winning.

6. RELEASE AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

By entering the Sweepstakes, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each entrant releases and agrees to hold harmless each of the Licensees, all other companies involved in the development or operation of the Sweepstakes, all other companies involved in the provision of any prize or any component of any prize, and the directors, officers, employees, agents, and contractors of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims and causes of action of any kind that the entrant ever had, now has, or might in the future have arising out of or relating to the Sweepstakes, participation in the Sweepstakes, the use of any website, submission form, or social media channel through which the Sweepstakes is offered, the provision, acceptance, or use of any prize or any component of any prize, or any use of any submitted video or the entrant’s Personality Rights as permitted pursuant to these Official Rules, including without limitation any and all claims and causes of action: (a) relating to any personal injury, death, or property damage or loss sustained by any entrant or any other person; (b) based upon any allegation of violation of the right of privacy or publicity, misappropriation, defamation, or violation of any other personal or proprietary right; or (c) based upon any allegation of infringement of copyright, trademark, trade dress, patent, trade secrets, moral rights, or any intellectual property right. Each entrant agrees not to assert any such claim or cause of action against any of the Released Parties.

Each entrant assumes the risk of, and all liability for, any injury, loss, or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Sweepstakes, the creation or submission of any video, the use of any submission form, website, or social media channel, or the provision, acceptance, or use of any prize or any component of any prize.

The Released Parties are not responsible for, and will not have any liability in connection with, any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Sweepstakes, or announcement of any prize. The Released Parties are not responsible for, and will not have any liability in connection with, late, lost, delayed, illegible, damaged, corrupted, misdirected, invalid, fraudulent, or incomplete entries; incorrect or inaccurate capture of, damage to, or loss of entries or entry information; interrupted internet connections; or any other human, mechanical, or technical error of any kind relating to the operation of any submission form, website, or social media channel, communications or attempted communications with any entrant, the submission, collection, storage, and/or processing of entries, or the administration of the Sweepstakes.

Sponsor is not responsible for any entrant’s failure to comply with laws or restrictions governing recording or photography at a voting location.

Nothing in these Official Rules authorizes an entrant to violate election laws, interfere with voting, or infringe another person’s rights.

7. GENERAL RULES

Sponsor has the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these Official Rules, including without limitation by adjusting any of the dates and/or timeframes stipulated in these Official Rules, and to cancel, modify, or suspend this Sweepstakes at any time in its discretion, including without limitation if a virus, bug, technical problem, entrant fraud or misconduct, or other cause beyond the control of Sponsor corrupts the administration, integrity, security, or proper operation of the Sweepstakes, or if for any other reason Sponsor is not able to conduct the Sweepstakes as planned.

In the event of termination of the Sweepstakes, a notice will be posted or otherwise made available by Sponsor, and a random drawing will be conducted to award the prize(s) from among all eligible entries received prior to the time of termination.

Sponsor has the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify or prohibit from participating in the Sweepstakes any individual who Sponsor determines or believes has done or attempted any of the following:

  • Attempts to tamper with the entry process.
  • Submits fraudulent, duplicate, or unauthorized content.
  • Uses automated programs or deceptive means to generate entries.
  • Violates these Official Rules. 
  • Engages in harassment, intimidation, or unlawful conduct connected with the Sweepstakes; or
  • .Engages in conduct that abuses, threatens, or harasses any other entrant or any representative of Sponsor.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE, SUBMISSION FORM, OR OTHER PLATFORM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SWEEPSTAKES OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR HAS THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES, FROM ANY PERSON INVOLVED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

The use of agents or automated devices, programs, bots, scripts, or methods to submit entries is prohibited, and Sponsor has the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any entry that it believes may have been submitted using such an agent, automated device, program, bot, script, or method.

In the event of a dispute regarding who submitted an entry, the entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized account holder” means the person who is assigned an email address by an internet provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. An entrant may be required to provide proof, in a form acceptable to Sponsor, including, without limitation, government-issued photo identification, that they are the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the entry in question.

All federal, state, and local laws apply.

By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all respects. These Official Rules may not be reprinted or republished in any way without the prior written consent of Sponsor.

This Sweepstakes is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or any other social media platform used to promote it.

8. DISPUTES

By entering the Sweepstakes, each entrant agrees, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, that (a) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes or the provision, acceptance and/or use of any prize or prize component will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action (Note: Some jurisdictions do not allow restricting access to class actions. This provision will not apply to entrants who live in such a jurisdiction); (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys’ fees; (c) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and each entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and (d) each entrant’s sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes will be an action at law for the recovery of monetary damages only, and in no event will the entrant have the right to enjoin or otherwise interfere with the exercise by the Licensees of any of the rights granted in these Official Rules or terminate or rescind any of the rights granted in these Official Rules. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules or the respective rights and obligations of the entrants and Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. Any legal proceedings arising out of this Sweepstakes or relating to these Official Rules shall be instituted only in the federal or state courts located in New York County in the State of New York, waiving any right to trial by jury, and each entrant consents to jurisdiction therein with respect to any legal proceedings or disputes of whatever nature arising under or relating to any of the foregoing. In the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and any Sweepstakes information provided elsewhere (including but not limited in advertising or marketing materials), these Official Rules shall prevail.

9. USE OF INFORMATION

By entering the Sweepstakes, each entrant agrees that information submitted in connection with the Sweepstakes will be subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Notice at https://couriernewsroom.com/privacy/ and may be used as permitted pursuant to the Privacy Notice, and may also be used as determined by Sponsor in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes (including notification of winners and provision of lists of winners when requested).

10. WINNERS LIST

For the name(s) of the winner(s), available after Oct. 30, 2026, or a copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

COURIER Voting Inspiration Stories Sweepstakes

3229 Greenpoint Ave., PMB 532

Long Island City, New York 11101

Winner’s name requests must be received within six months of the conclusion of the Entry Period.

11. SPONSOR

Courier Newsroom, Inc.