You betcha, she won

During election training last fall, Haylee Senger listened closely as the North Dakota secretary of state’s office introduced its new “I voted” sticker design contest to encourage voter participation. Then an example featuring the word “ope” flashed onto the screen, and Senger had a moment.

“I heard this Norwegian voice pop into my head saying, ‘Oh yah, you betcha, I voted,’ and made note of it to create a design around that slogan,” Senger says.

One might not expect Senger, a deputy auditor for Bottineau County, to have a knack for design. But because she enjoyed creating graphics, she figured why not give it a try?

Her biggest inspiration, however, came from her 7-year-old daughter, Paisley. Nicknamed “Paisley Picasso” for her own artistic talent, she joined her mother in creating her own sticker for the contest, making the project a bonding experience for them both.

With a theme in place, Senger moved on to the design.

She knew she wanted to use red, white and blue. After trying several versions, she settled on a red background because she thought it stood out the most. To tie it to North Dakota, she added the outline of the state, but she still thought it missed a certain spark.

“The final touch was transforming the ‘b’ on betcha into a thumbs up,” Senger says.

Five designs and countless small adjustments later, she sent her final choice into the contest.

From finalist to winner
Soon after submitting the sticker, Senger received a personal call from N.D. Secretary of State Michael Howe, letting her know she had advanced to the contest’s final round. Excited and surprised, she learned the next step was a statewide public vote, with the winner announced at the next election conference.

Senger had plenty of competition. North Dakotans of every generation submitted 478 designs from 72 communities across the state. The field was narrowed to five finalists before voters chose the winning design in a statewide vote held in January.

Sitting in the audience with her boss, Emily Deschamp, at an election conference in Bismarck in early March, Senger was stunned when Howe announced she had won.

Excited, she called her fiancé, Colin Waldera, with the news.

“To me, the phrase, ‘You betcha, I voted,’ is a confident, enthusiastic and Midwestern way to say I exercised my right to vote, and I’m darn proud of it,” Senger says. “I think it resonates with North Dakotans because it's a phrase that feels like home.”

Learning civic responsibility early
After growing up in Grafton and attending high school in Cando, Senger became an esthetician after graduating from The Salon Professional Academy in Fargo. Two years ago, she made an unexpected career change, joining the Bottineau County auditor’s office as deputy auditor.

“I can’t say enough good things about Haylee. She’s always willing to jump in and help wherever she’s needed. She stays on top of what’s new and changing, always keeping the county and our employees’ best interests in mind. She’s calm under pressure, eager to learn and has become an invaluable part of our office,” Deschamp says.

Working on elections is a good fit. Growing up, she watched her parents treat voting as a priority. She still remembers casting her first vote during the 2016 primary election, but says working in elections has given her an even deeper appreciation for the process.

“Want to know who keeps the courthouse wheels turning?” Senger asks. “It’s the county auditor’s office.”

The auditor’s office serves as the courthouse's central hub, Senger says, with employees wearing a dozen hats at any given time. They handle budgets, payroll, bills, foreclosures, liquor licenses and many other responsibilities. And Haylee, according to her colleague, Laurie Lord, does it with enthusiasm.

“Haylee is such a joy to work with,” Lord says. “Her kindness and positivity are genuine, and she brings both to work every day.”

When she’s not at the office, she cherishes time spent with her fiancé, who works for the N.D. Department of Transportation and volunteers as a firefighter, and with Paisley, who is an enthusiastic Girl Scout.

Making every vote count
Of all her responsibilities, helping administer elections alongside Deschamp and Lord is the part of the job Senger finds most rewarding.

“It’s pure teamwork,” Senger says. “I absolutely love working with them. We work so well together as a team. I never dread going to work and having that kind of environment is a blessing.”

While voters experience Election Day, county auditors spend months preparing behind the scenes. They maintain voter registration records, prepare ballots, train election workers, coordinate absentee voting, test voting equipment and manage countless details to ensure every election is conducted accurately and according to state law.

“It’s an exciting and long day,” Senger says. “Laurie and I are still new to the process, so having Emily’s leadership and guidance has been incredibly helpful.”

On Election Day, the auditor’s office serves as the behind-the-scenes hub, answering questions, solving problems and ensuring every aspect of the election runs smoothly. After the polls close, the team begins its final responsibility – uploading and reporting the election results.

Having seen firsthand the work that goes into every election, Senger offers simple advice to first-time voters.
“First, good job – I’m proud of you,” she says. “Second, research your candidates and measures before you vote. Finally, take your time and know your voice truly matters.”

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Clarice Kesler is the communications director for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, leading strategic communications including North Dakota Living, digital communications and media relations. She can be reached at ckesler@ndarec.com.