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The Clearinghouse Awards, also known as the “Clearie” Awards, are presented annually across the U.S. for best practices in election administration by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), the EAC is charged with serving as a clearinghouse for election administration information. To further this mission, the EAC launched the Clearies in 2016 to promote best practices in elections and celebrate the accomplishments of election officials.
The EAC is excited to recognize the hard work and innovation of the 2024 Clearie Winners. The EAC is also recognizing 53 jurisdictions with 2024 Clearie Honorable Mention awards. You can also read the press release for more information on the announcement.
2024 Clearinghouse Award Categories
- Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives
- Security: Innovation and New Tools in Election Security and Technology
- Contingency Planning: Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts
- Election Administration: Innovations or New Practices in Election Administration
- HAVA Grants: Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Elections Modernization
- Accessibility: Best Practices for Improving Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities
- Poll Workers: Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers
- “I Voted” Stickers: Creative and Original “I Voted” Stickers
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Small/Medium Jurisdictions
City of Monroe Clerk-Treasurer’s Office, Michigan
The City of Monroe has been actively working to increase election communication and voter engagement for the past several years. While the Bureau of Elections had a robust plan to provide voter education and build trust during the 2024 election cycle, the office recognized that with Michigan's decentralized process, it would be critical for City of Monroe voters to hear from their City Clerk – directly and as frequently as possible. The goal was to ensure, through consistent and cohesive messaging, that voters were informed of, and felt empowered to participate in, the election process, regardless of their preferred voting method or changes to election law. The media strategy was designed to meet voters’ needs, both in terms of their preferred communication method and their understanding of the election process. The consistent look and feel helped establish this series as a reliable, familiar source of information for voters that would also serve as a foundation for expanded communication in future election cycles.
Dubuque County Elections, Iowa
To enhance voter communication and community engagement, Dubuque County Elections partnered with local schools to feature student artwork promoting voting on the windows of their new ground-level office. All elementary schools in the county were invited to participate, and two—Resurrection Elementary and St. Columbkille—responded. Third and fourth graders created drawings centered on themes like the word “vote,” the American flag, or the courthouse. The displays served not only to decorate the new space but also to spark meaningful conversations about voting among students, their families, and the broader community. The initiative created a visual connection to the democratic process, with thousands of voters enjoying the artwork over the course of the General Election. This collaboration encouraged early voting, fostered civic curiosity in young students, and built trust among community stakeholders. By engaging schools and families in the voting process in a positive, nonpartisan way, Dubuque County Elections opened new lines of communication with voters and laid the foundation for long-term civic engagement.
Huron County Board of Elections, Ohio
The Huron County office sprang into action when they heard from many voters that there was confusion about several crucial pieces of information for the upcoming presidential election. Voters did not know when early voting started, what the election office’s hours were, or where to vote. The Huron County staff brainstormed novel ideas for how they could reach as many people as possible, eventually coming up with the idea of putting fliers on pizza boxes. Given the widespread popularity of pizza takeout and delivery, this proved to be an excellent way to reach voters across the county. With outstanding success, the staff contacted every pizza place in the county and asked permission to post the informational notices on their pizza boxes. After the original release, the office then contacted every grocery store in the area and requested they put the fliers in grocery bags. Two of the biggest grocery stores in Huron County agreed to help with this outreach.
Indian River County Supervisor of Elections, Florida
MVP Program (Mobile Voter Program)
The Indian River County Supervisor of Elections introduced the 2024 Mobile Voter Program (MVP) in response to new legislation requiring renewal of mail ballot requests prior to each General Election cycle. In 2024, the office implemented a creative partnership with the Senior Resource Association (SRA) to deliver Mobile Voter Packets to those who may be homebound or have limited mobility. SRA is recognized as the lead agency in Indian River County for promoting home- and community-based services to older adults, including special transportation modes. The Election team assembled 1,800 Mobile Voter Packets that were personally distributed to individuals who use SRA services. The Mobile Voter Packets contained a voter registration application, a mail ballot request form, and election information materials. By going mobile, voting awareness was personally delivered to voters whose needs are often overlooked.
Large Jurisdictions
Buncombe County Election Services, North Carolina
The NC Together Video Project
The NC Together video project was a collaborative effort between the North Carolina State Board of Elections, the Communication and Public Engagement (CAPE) department for Buncombe County, NC, and Buncombe County Election Services. The three-part video series was designed to build trust by connecting voters to their local election officials in a personal and relatable way. The outreach concept is simple yet powerful—election administrators from across the state read a shared script, each speaking a few words while standing in front of their county’s chosen landmark. The script emphasizes the role of election administrators as real people—neighbors and friends—dedicated to ensuring fair and secure elections. These clips were woven together, creating a vibrant, statewide tapestry of election officials working to reassure voters.
Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, South Carolina
“Owlbert Learns to Vote” is a coordinated voter education initiative from the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections in partnership with the Charleston County Public Library. The original children’s book follows Owlbert, the library’s mascot, as he and his classmates vote on whether to build a playground on their soccer field. Through this engaging story, young minds learn about democracy, decision-making, and respectful debate. The book was launched with a community event featuring a read-along, a mock election, and book giveaways. “Owlbert Learns to Vote,” along with the launch, presented a hands-on way to build early civic engagement.
Durham County Board of Elections, North Carolina
Durham County DCo Votes Mobile App
The DCo Votes app is a free, custom-built mobile application designed to put essential election information directly in the hands of Durham County voters. Available for iOS and Android, the app was developed in house using WordPress and integrates the most frequently accessed components, based on Google Analytics data, of the Board of Elections website, dcovotes.com. With a strong focus on voter communication, the app features push notification capabilities through RAVE Alert, an emergency system used across various city and county services. The app enhances accessibility and transparency by offering real-time information in a user-friendly format. Design and planning were completed using free or existing enterprise tools such as Canva and Adobe Photoshop, ensuring a low-cost high-impact solution. By leveraging existing county resources and focusing on voter-centric features, the DCo Votes app provides a cost-effective and scalable model for voter engagement. It strengthens communication with the public, fosters trust, and helps ensure that voters stay informed before and during elections.
Ottawa County, Michigan Clerk/ROD, Michigan
“Not a Podcast” - Ballots & Banter - Video
In 2024, the Ottawa elections team set the goal of interacting and engaging with the community through at least 20 various touchpoints. The objective was to use multiple mediums of communication to reach as wide an audience as possible. The office harnessed the conversational nature of a podcast to convey basic, intentional, accessible voter information in bite-sized clips. Elections staff filmed two- to four-minute clips on specific topics, including: ballot box security, early voting, election fraud and more. These “clips” were then edited and compiled in imitation of a larger podcast discussion titled “Ballots & Banter.” The result exceeded expectations: the recording process was fast and fun, the staff was able to collaborate, production was cheap, and, most importantly, it was effective.
Thurston County Auditor’s Office, Washington
Your Neighbors, Your Elections - Video
The “Your Neighbors, Your Elections” project in Thurston County featured three short videos that highlighted the personal connections election workers have to their roles. Each video showcased a permanent or temporary staff member, sharing their stories about how they got involved in elections, their responsibilities, and the pride they take in their work. Filmed in the Ballot Processing Center or Voting Center, the interviews were paired with B-roll footage of each person performing their duties and interacting with colleagues. The videos emphasized trust and transparency, reinforcing the theme of elections conducted by trusted neighbors dedicated to accuracy and integrity.
State Level
Nebraska Secretary of State
MY VOTE. MY ID. LET’S BRING IT
On June 1, 2023, the Governor signed a law that established voter identification requirements for elections in Nebraska. Educating Nebraskans about the state’s new voter ID law was a priority. The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office developed and directed the statewide campaign, engaging with media partners and community groups to educate citizens about the law. This included creating and updating a webpage dedicated to voter ID (voterID.nebraska.gov), distributing educational brochures in both English and Spanish, publishing news releases, collaborating with Nebraska journalists, participating in radio and TV talk show appearances, posting educational material on social media, and hosting 20 educational events across the state. In addition, the educational campaign included a robust media strategy with repeated messaging, broadcast for a period of nine weeks in advance of the primary and general elections. The campaign also worked directly with the 93 County Clerks and Elections Commissioners to provide training information for Nebraska’s 8,000 poll workers.
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Utah
12 Days of Election Improvements “Votemas” Social Media Campaign
Welcome to the 12 Days of Election Improvements, also known as Votemas—a fun and engaging way to educate voters about the positive changes election workers have made in Utah. This initiative, inspired by the state’s Elections Director, highlights the new technologies, procedures, and laws that have strengthened the integrity, security, and efficiency of Utah’s elections. Throughout the 12-day social media campaign, staff shared daily posts on Facebook, Instagram, and X that featured fun graphics paired with short, engaging captions. To offer more context and in-depth explanations, the office also posted the graphics on their website, providing richer content where character limits on social media can sometimes fall short. This approach not only made the campaign more informative but also created an interactive opportunity for voters to learn more and become better connected to the election process.
South Carolina State Election Commission
Prep for the Polls Voter Education Program
The Prep for the Polls voter education program is a comprehensive voter education initiative rolled out for the general elections in 2024 that aimed to get voters ready for voting season. The campaign featured branding, language, and videos, directing voters to visit the Commission’s website before election day to ensure a smooth voting experience. The crux of the campaign was for voters to login on the office’s website to check their sample ballot, polling place, and registration information, preempting any issues on election day. Utilizing partnerships, traditional marketing and digital marketing, South Carolina saw its largest voter turnout ever for the 2024 election season.
Vermont Secretary of State’s Office
Election Security in Vermont - Video PSA - Video
In the run-up to the 2024 November General Election, the Secretary of State’s Office sought to proactively promote trustworthy information about election security in Vermont through a coordinated public service announcement effort. The initiative involved clerks making a video PSA detailing how voters can trust that Vermont’s elections are secure. The video takes viewers through the entire election process, from voter checklist maintenance to vote counting procedures. Staff visited clerks at their offices across the state to create a unified message that featured recognizable people and places, rather than simply focusing on Secretary Copeland Hanzas and the Capitol in Montpelier. The video was promoted through social media as well as Front Porch Forum, a community-based email listserv with coverage throughout the state.
Washington Office of the Secretary of State
“Mark the Ballot” Public Education Campaign
Ahead of the 2024 elections, the Washington Secretary of State’s Office launched Mark the Ballot to build trust in the state’s electoral process. The campaign highlighted the security of Washington’s vote-by-mail system, addressed common concerns, and emphasized integrity through clear, audience-focused messaging. Localized media and culturally relevant visuals helped reinforce trust at the community level. A popular feature was Mark the Ballot, an animated character who made complex election topics engaging and entertaining. Content covered voter roll accuracy, ballot security, voting system certification, and more. Results included a 15% boost in security awareness, a 36% increase in trust in state government fairness, and a 12% rise in confidence in election officials.
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California Secretary of State
De-escalation Training Program for Election Staff
The California Secretary of State’s Office, in partnership with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), developed a De-escalation Training Program to enable local election offices to provide high-quality, low-cost de-escalation training to all staff. The program focuses on teaching election workers how to resolve tense situations, both in person and over the phone. Materials for in-person staff consisted of a training video and focused on providing instructions and demonstrations to poll workers. The video is easy to include in standard poll worker training. The training for phone operators is a scenario-based roleplay training that allows them to practice specific scenarios. Staff from the Secretary’s office filmed and distributed the training video across the state.
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, California
Electronic Chain of Custody Solution for Elections
The Electronic Chain of Custody (CoC) Solution was developed to address security risks and inefficiencies in the paper-based custody process for voting equipment and materials. The traditional manual process resulted in extensive paper waste, time delays, illegible entries, missing documentation, and the risk of lost custody records during transport and multiple handoffs. Under the Voting Solutions for All People Program, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk recognized the need for a reliable tracking system to safeguard election equipment from potential tampering or theft. Implemented in 2020, the CoC solution digitized custody tracking, enabling real-time monitoring and automated recordkeeping. This reduced manual tasks and improved efficiency, security, and compliance. By enhancing transparency and safeguarding election materials, the program has become a cornerstone of election integrity in Los Angeles County.
Pierce County Elections, Washington
Securing Democracy's Inbox: An Air-Gapped Protocol for Processing Voter Email Attachments
In 2023, Pierce County Elections developed a secure, air-gapped protocol for processing voter email attachments. This solution addresses the critical cybersecurity risks posed by handling unknown attachments while ensuring compliance with legal requirements. By implementing a dedicated workstation, network isolation, system protection software, and a direct-to-printer workflow, the program prioritizes security and safeguards election infrastructure from digital threats.
Tazewell County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds, Illinois
Implemented for the 2024 Presidential Election, all Tazewell County Election Judges received and used an election judge badge. The new badge reflected changes the office requested to Illinois state statutes removing the requirement for the election judge’s name to be printed on the badge. This was replaced with an individualized identification number, safeguarding the personal identity of the election judges. The county also included a listing of emergency contact phone numbers on the back of the badge for easy accessibility to election workers. Support for this new election judge badge came in the form of a joint press conference with the Tazewell County presiding judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit, where the judge spoke about the important role of election workers.
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Small/Medium Jurisdictions
Ann Arbor City Clerk’s Office, Michigan
“More Days, More Ways” – Planning for a Safe and Secure Election in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Recently, Ann Arbor officials planned for a new tabletop exercise (TTX) that revolved around an election day event. The TTX anticipated a weather event causing widespread power outages. A major takeaway from this exercise was the need for election officials, safety officers, and public works teams to all be invested in the security of the election process. Following the success of the tabletop, a written Emergency Election Operations handbook was created, and a second exercise was planned for August focusing on assisting the campus of the University of Michigan. The second TTX included a broader group of election partners from the University. After the first exercise, staff reached out to U-M officials to form a specific safety team in preparation for the opening of the satellite clerk offices on U-M’s campus in the Fall. Additionally, the plan placed a focus on voters’ rights and access to the ballot box.
Coconino County Elections Department, Arizona
The Coconino County election training program emphasizes robust contingency planning through a two-phase approach. Phase 1, centered around the CLARA Model (Calm, Listen, Affirm, Respond), trains poll workers to respond effectively to voter concerns. Workers are equipped with tools, including providing legal handouts and escalating issues to polling location inspectors when needed. This proactive communication framework enhances voter experience and promotes calm under pressure. Phase 2 focuses on advanced situational awareness and emergency preparedness, especially for lead poll workers. Developed in collaboration with local law enforcement, this phase trains workers in threat recognition and emergency response protocols. The partnership ensures law enforcement expertise is integrated into election planning, addressing security concerns and enabling swift, informed responses to potential disruptions. Together, these phases represent a forward-thinking contingency strategy. The training ensures that poll workers are not only operationally prepared but equipped to handle any emergencies or irregularities.
Lexington County Voter Registration, South Carolina
Lexington County Voter Registration developed two innovative training programs focused on improving communication with voters and enhancing the election experience in challenging situations. The first initiative was an Emergency Flip Book designed as a quick-reference guide for poll workers to use during emergency situations. This tool ensured that clerks and poll workers could respond swiftly and appropriately, reducing confusion and helping maintain voter safety and confidence. The second program consisted of situational training aimed at equipping clerks with the skills to manage public interactions calmly and professionally. This training empowered election staff to handle tense situations, prevent misunderstandings, and resolve conflicts. Both programs emphasized respect and professionalism, reinforcing the principle that voters are valued customers in the democratic process. By implementing these efforts, Lexington County ensured that all voters felt safe and welcomed at the polls.
Large Jurisdictions
Buncombe County Election Services, North Carolina
Buncombe County, NC, Helene Disaster Response
On September 27, 2024, Tropical Storm Helene struck Western North Carolina, causing widespread devastation. In Buncombe County, the hardest hit area in the state, floodwaters destroyed roads, homes, and businesses, and caused over 106 fatalities. Utilities were disrupted, and communication was limited to radio and word of mouth. With just three weeks until early voting, polling sites were lost, and poll workers were unable to serve — uncertainty was everywhere. Thankfully, many were prepared to take action. Election Services and Emergency Services staff began working together in 2022 on an Incident Action Plan for implementation in the event of an emergency during an election. Relationship-building and psychological resiliency was a focus of this planning and proved critical in compassionately overcoming unforeseen problems. The result was that the community was reassured that voting would go on, and voters could take pride in casting their ballots.
North Carolina State Board of Elections
Voting Through Helene and High Water
Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in late September 2024, six weeks before the election. Absentee voting had already begun, and in-person early voting was scheduled to start in three weeks. Flooding washed away homes, businesses, and communities. Sadly, many lives were lost. Power, water, sewer, and internet services were out for days — months in some areas. The State Board of Elections immediately started working to ensure voters could cast ballots despite the devastation. The state’s mantra: “We don’t stop an election. We figure out how to proceed.” State Board staff worked with Board members, county election boards, local, state and federal emergency and law enforcement partners, the N.C. National Guard, the U.S. Postal Service, FEMA, state and local IT professionals, and others to ensure voting in the 25-county disaster area. Voter turnout in those 25 counties was 74.88%, higher than the statewide turnout of 72.64%. In addition, state funding for an advertising campaign, existing relationships across the state, and the hard work and resilience of election officials helped make this effort possible.
Office of the Idaho Secretary of State
A Proactive and Collaborative Approach to Election Security & Threat Response
The 2024 Idaho Election Security Group (ESG) was established by the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office in 2023 to provide “whole-of-state” election security management, monitoring, tracking, advice, and response throughout the 2024 election cycle. Serving as the statewide nerve center, the ESG coordinated response, assistance, and messaging for large-scale cybersecurity, physical security, and natural disaster events before, during, and after the 2024 general election. This collaborative effort, involving federal, state, and local agencies, and private sector partners, ensured a secure and successful election in Idaho. The ESG was led by the Idaho Secretary of State’s CIO and supported by the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, the Idaho Office of Technology Services, the Idaho Military Division, the Idaho National Guard, and Idaho State Police’s Criminal Intelligence (Fusion) Center.
Wake County Board of Elections, North Carolina
Wake County Election Day Emergency Action Plan
The Wake County Board of Elections developed an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Ballot Style Comparison Tool to ensure seamless voting during disruptions. Using Excel, the EAP identifies alternative polling sites based on proximity, size, parking, and voter population, allowing quick rerouting if a polling place becomes unusable. The Ballot Style Comparison Tool streamlines ballot verification by enabling officials to compare precinct ballots and direct out-of-precinct voters appropriately. These cost-effective, scalable solutions enhance election resilience, requiring only staff time for setup and maintenance. Using tabletop exercises, team training, and structured contingency planning, Wake County ensures uninterrupted voter access, improved election official response, and a replicable model for other jurisdictions.
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Small/Medium Jurisdictions
County of Monterey, Elections Department, California
The Books and Ballots program expands access to the ballot in rural and underserved areas by leveraging partnerships between election offices and county libraries. Through the initiative, civic engagement opportunities include voter registration, voting, public observation, candidate filing, outreach/education, data services, accessibility and language assistance. Expanding voting opportunities is a critical objective to fostering a representative democracy, but achieving this goal is challenging, especially when resources are limited. The Books and Ballots program focused on how to enhance and increase access to the democratic process to underserved and rural areas while continuing to meet state and federal laws.
Election Division, City of Flint Clerk’s Office, Michigan
Absent Voter Counting Board Reorganization - Documentation and Communications
The Absent Voter Counting Board in Flint had a history of late completion, dissatisfaction and even skepticism from observers, and a sense among members that they could do things in their own way. In a cooperative effort between the Clerk’s Office and the Elections Group, staff defined tasks down to the simplest steps, wrote job descriptions for each member of the board, and created a linear flow of materials to prevent confusion about ballot status. Additionally, staff color-coded stations to correspond to specific jobs, using the color-coded system for signs and observer handouts to allow quick recognition of what was happening in each area of the counting board. Chain of Custody/Ballot Accounting forms were also color-coded to associate each task and signature-set with the appropriate station and set of Poll Inspectors.
Large Jurisdictions
Fairfax County Office of Elections, Virginia
Pollbook Unclear? No Need to Fear! A Worksheet Leads the Way for Processing Nonroutine Voters
Election day moves fast, but nonroutine voters slow things down—especially after Virginia introduced same-day registration (SDR) in 2022. SDR voters cast provisional ballots, creating more confusion at polling places. In the moment, poll workers need clear, immediate guidance, not a complicated manual. That’s why the staff developed a nonroutine voter worksheet. This is a simple step-by-step tool that eliminates guesswork and gives poll workers confidence in tricky situations. The office provided 100 to 500 copies of the form to each polling place and required poll workers to complete it for each nonroutine voter. At first, some poll workers were hesitant to fill out yet another form. But once they tried it and saw how it simplified their process, many said they wouldn’t want to work without it.
Jefferson County Clerk & Recorder, Colorado
A Signature Solution: Helping First- Time Voters Make Their Votes Count
Signature verification is essential for election security, but first-time voters often have only one signature on file, increasing the likelihood of mismatches and ballot rejections. To address this, the Jefferson County Clerk & Recorder’s office created a signature collection postcard that enables voters to proactively add a second signature to their file. Voters receive the postcard at events or in the office, sign it, take a photo, and upload it through a QR code-linked secure portal. This ensures additional reference points for signature verification, reducing ballot rejections and strengthening election security. The initiative was immediately successful, with strong adoption among first-time voters and replication by other counties statewide.
Prince William County Office of Elections, Virginia
Publishing Results Tapes Online
Prince William County was the first county in Virginia and one of the first in the nation to publish tapes of all officer-signed results online, giving the public access to primary sources of election results. In recent years, concerns about election integrity have been voiced questioning the accuracy of results and effectiveness of voting machines. The most effective way to combat disinformation and concerns at the local level is to provide heightened levels of transparency that allow the public access in new and unprecedented ways. While the public being able to verify that a particular precinct’s results match reported totals is valuable as a validation test, the confidence gained in the knowledge such a tool is available is just as meaningful, if not more so.
State Level
Arizona Secretary of State
Arizona Election Administration Student Fellowship Program
To address the need to recruit new workers to the election administration profession, the Arizona Secretary of State’s (AZSOS) office created an Election Administration Student Fellowship Program for the November 2024 election. The initiative strives to inspire college students to consider working in the field of election administration. In addition to giving Arizona college students exposure to election administration through hands-on work in county offices, the Fellowship program provided paid staff support to county election administrators to help address shortages of staff resources. A total of 18 fellows were selected and 16 of those worked in county-level election offices across eight Arizona counties. The other two fellows worked directly for AZSOS. The program was funded with Arizona Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, provided by the Arizona Governor’s office.
Maryland State Board of Elections
Text2Cure
The Maryland General Assembly recently passed a law that required the State Board of Elections (SBE) to implement a curing-by-text message method for contacting voters who did not sign the oath on their mail-in ballot envelope. SBE procured a solution that would allow for a voter to be notified that they needed to cure their ballot in order for it to be counted and offered various methods by which this could be done. It also included a secure texting option whereby a voter could text back their signature securely.
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Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, Florida
Enhancing Election Accessibility and Efficiency with HAVA Grants
The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections used HAVA grant funds to modernize Early Voting by expanding the use of ExpressVote ballot-marking devices. With HAVA funding, Palm Beach County expanded from 43 to 474 ExpressVote units across 27 Early Voting sites, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility, accuracy, and transparency in elections. The program improved accessibility, reduced wait times, and lowered costs.
Sutter County Elections, California
In 2024, the county introduced electronic Pocketalk devices — handheld translation tools supporting over 84 languages through voice and image translation. These devices are deployed at all polling locations, with training provided for poll workers and other staff. As the population became more diverse, the county sought immediate, local solutions for better language accessibility and access to voter information. Funded by HAVA grants, this program has improved communication, boosted poll worker confidence, and enhanced service across departments, all while remaining cost-effective. Pocketalk is also used in the Election office, Clerk of the Board, and Clerk-Recorder offices year-round. Its features, including visual and spoken translations, have proven especially valuable for assisting hearing- and sight-impaired individuals.
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Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, South Carolina
Voter Accessibility Advisory Committee
The Voter Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) was established in March 2024 to provide valuable advice and recommendations to the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections on matters related to voting accessibility. The primary purpose of the VAAC was to ensure that all voters in Charleston County, regardless of disability, could fully and equitably participate in elections. The committee’s role involves identifying barriers to voting, proposing potential solutions, and enhancing the overall voting experience for individuals with disabilities across the county.
Floyd County Elections, Georgia
Voter Accessibility Town Hall
Floyd County Elections, in partnership with the Northwest Georgia Center for Independent Living, hosted a town hall focused on educating voters with disabilities about their rights and accessible voting options. The event featured current accessible voting systems. Staff also provided information on county and state policies that support accessible voting, including the use of poll worker pins indicating language proficiencies, including American Sign Language (ASL). The program was cost-effective, using existing county resources, equipment, and personnel. The initiative effectively highlighted practices already in place, demonstrating that similar programs could be replicated with minimal expense. The event had a strong turnout and helped voters become familiar with the voting process. It also provided the staff with valuable insight into the specific needs of voters with disabilities.
Salt Lake County Clerk Election Division, Utah
Try Before You Vote: Accessible Voter Outreach
Voters with disabilities may feel unable to participate in voting if they don’t know what options are available to them. To encourage more election participation, the election division demonstrated how voting machines work at multiple events hosted by or geared toward people with disabilities. At these events, voters received hands-on experience with Salt Lake County’s three accessible voting methods, helping them gain confidence in the process. The outreach allowed voters to ask questions, explore accommodations, and, where applicable, sign up for electronic ballot delivery. By meeting voters where they are, election officials empowered individuals to make informed choices and ensured voters were aware of their options before Election Day.
South Carolina State Election Commission
Voter Education Videos with American Sign Language Subtitles
In collaboration with Disability Rights South Carolina, a nonprofit that works to protect and advance the needs of people with disabilities in the state, the South Carolina State Election Commission created a series of instructional videos on the voting process with American Sign Language captions. These videos cover accessibility in polling places and the absentee voting process, and have ASL captions and high-contrast text captions for individuals with visual impairments. This partnership, along with the final product, helps to spread critical voting information to all eligible voters, including those with low-vision or hearing needs. Disability Rights South Carolina provided fluent interpreters to create the ASL captions and worked with election staff to ensure the ASL captions correctly aligned with the video.
Washington Office of the Secretary of State - Elections Division
Partnering with our community to add ASL into the visual Video Voters’ Guide
American Sign Language (ASL) is a complex language that’s distinct from English and other spoken languages. Beginning in 2023, this outreach program provided voting information and candidate statements in recorded ASL videos. It is a new collaboration between the Secretary of State’s office, members of the state’s accessibility community, and TVW.org, a trusted nonprofit broadcasting organization. The successful partnership added ASL and closed captioning to the statewide Video Voters’ Guide. The suggestion came directly from members of the Washington State accessibility advisory committee, and the office implemented a plan to make it happen.
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Small/Medium Jurisdictions
Guam Election Commission
2024 Guam College Poll Worker Program
The Guam Election Commission’s College Poll Worker Program commenced in the 2024 Fall Semester, in collaboration with the University of Guam’s Public Administration and Legal Studies Program. The program consists of an undergraduate course in Elections Administration (PA 308) and a professional development Election Administration course (PD 894) – devised to encourage college students to assist in the administration of Guam’s elections by serving as nonpartisan poll workers or assistants. The three-credit academic courses explored central themes on the importance of conducting and administering elections in Guam, the fundamental right to vote and how elections affect the daily lives of island residents. Students were required to write research papers, give presentations, and participate in interactive class discussions. The program concluded with an obligatory precinct official training in which all students served as deputized precinct officials in the 2024 General Election.
Porter County Elections & Registration, Indiana
Improving Poll Worker Support with the Band App
To improve poll worker support for the 2024 General Election, the Porter County Elections & Registration Office introduced the “Band app” to enhance communication and training retention. Previously, the time-lapse between training and Election Day caused some poll workers to forget details of their training. The app served as a virtual hub where poll workers could ask questions, review instructional information, and build camaraderie with their peers. Even seasoned poll workers found the app easy to use and highly beneficial. The platform allowed targeted communication by polling location or position, and administrators could send reminders, updates, and instructions instantly, improving efficiency and reducing administrative work. Poll workers were added to the app through QR codes, email, or text, and were asked to include their polling location in their profiles to strengthen team connections. The cost-effective, smartphone-compatible solution streamlined communication and implemented a new tool for county-wide poll workers.
Washington County Board of Elections, Maryland
Election Judge Recruitment Open House
The Board of Elections held an open house at office headquarters to recruit additional election workers ahead of the 2024 Presidential General Election. They created a model polling place, with voting equipment and veteran election workers at each station to demonstrate to prospective workers how they would perform their duties. The open house was advertised on social media and broadcast through local media outlets. The office had a robust turnout and was able to recruit many excellent candidates as new election workers.
Large Jurisdictions
City of Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services, Minnesota
Student Election Judge Interpreter Training
Minneapolis has a long-standing and successful program to support high school students as poll workers. Two or three high school students serve at each voting precinct in each election, coordinating with their school and family to make the experience a valuable educational experience and contribute to their community. The training, responsibilities, and pay are the same as any other team poll worker and often lead to additional leadership opportunities in polling places and communities. Along with practical training as poll workers and language interpreters, students gain a deeper understanding of the support available to them on election day. They are supported by leadership judges, translated materials, and an interpreter service available by phone.
Fairfax County Office of Elections, Virginia
No More Waits, No Misplaced Tapes: Closing the Polls Faster on Election Night
Poll workers often struggle with sequencing, leading to possible delays and confusion. To address this, Fairfax County created a Closing Procedures Workshop with two hands-on exercises. First, the Timeline Exercise uses 20 flashcards representing key closing tasks. Teams must sort these into categories based on who can complete them and the overall process, such as any poll worker, the chief poll worker, and the specific sequencing order of tasks. This exercise promotes teamwork and helps workers visualize the closing process, streamlining task delegation. Second, the Tapes Exercise tackles one of the most challenging aspects of closing: matching the DS200 ballot scanner tapes with the correct forms. Using laminated tape samples, poll workers practice identifying and attaching tapes to the appropriate documentation, eliminating guesswork during actual poll closing. By transforming complex procedures into engaging activities, this interactive training helped poll workers better understand their tasks and reduced closing times on Election Night.
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, California
Multilingual Election Worker Recruitment Tool
Due to federal and local requirements, LA County must recruit election workers in 18 languages. This brings many challenges as each vote center has different language needs. To address these challenges, LA County developed a Multilingual Election Worker Recruitment Tool that allows both election recruitment staff and outside partners to see multilingual worker needs displayed geographically on a dashboard. The tool has brought many benefits, such as the ability to share links with community partners for more effective recruitment and the ability for multilingual election worker recruitment staff to quickly match volunteers to the specific areas in need. Since the dashboard is built from Google applications, it is easy to manage, cost-effective, and would be easy to replicate.
Louisiana Secretary of State's Office
Louisiana has struggled to recruit the necessary number of poll workers for elections across the state - a problem that isn’t unique to the Sportsman’s Paradise. Coupled with an aging population of current poll workers, this problem will only become more acute as time passes. Combined with efforts to educate voters at the polling place, the Secretary of State’s Office launched a poll worker recruitment program at 20 early voting sites in six parishes. While voters waited in line, election commissioners provided them with poll worker interest cards that voters could deposit into a receptacle as they left the polling site. This helped the election office contact those interested in becoming poll workers. The initiative resulted in nearly 1,000 voters signing up to serve as commissioners at an average age of 53 years old—more than 10 years younger than the current average.
Pima County Elections Department, Arizona
Pima County Elections Training Program
By combining renewed hands-on training sessions in 2024 with engaging online training courses through Tenex Software Solutions, Pima County built relationships with workers and expanded its poll worker training opportunities. In a coordinated effort that will continue for years to come, the county streamlined the poll worker application process and increased the number of training sessions. In addition, extensive new online training courses enabled workers to complete the training online at their own pace. The county also created a vote center simulation training program that allows workers to experience various scenarios they will encounter on Election Day. Poll workers are excited to train in Pima County, and thanks to the county’s focus on worker retention and education, the county is continuing to create partnerships and support election workers.
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Small/Medium Jurisdictions
Currituck County Board of Elections, North Carolina - "I Voted" Sticker Contest
Currituck County recently held its first "I Voted" sticker contest for artists aged 18 and under to encourage creativity in the electoral process. The contest was announced on the county website and the Election Office Facebook page. A PowerPoint presentation provided local educators with educational modules to help integrate government and election-specific lessons into their curriculum. Participants were asked to create a design related to Currituck County that included the phrase "I Voted." There are plans to include additional categories, such as "Future Voter," in future contests. The winning sticker is circular and features a black outline of North Carolina with 'Currituck' written in cursive inside it. It depicts a rearing brown horse on green grass and a brown and black lighthouse set against a backdrop of the American flag.
Full Submission Materials
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Harrison Township Clerk, Michigan - Boat Town I Voted Sticker
As the 2024 election year approached, the community of Harrison Township sought a unique way to brand voting for their area, famously known as Boat Town USA. The nickname pays homage to the township’s location on Lake St. Clair and references the fact that the town once had more registered boats than residents. To honor this heritage and convey the community’s pride in its waterfront, the township selected the tagline "Boat Town, Vote Town.” Despite Michigan's array of stickers, the “Boat Town, Vote Town” sticker was chosen – two to one over other options. The community has since expanded the use of this sticker for all election-related projects to ensure consistent branding. The circular "I Voted" sticker shows the front of a white cabin boat cutting through choppy waves with a pale blue sky and white clouds in the background. The text "Boat Town Vote Town" is written in navy blue letters across the sticker.
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Mesa County Elections Department, Colorado - Mesa County Elections 2024 Sticker Contest
Mesa County’s "I Voted" Sticker Contest engaged students in grades 1-12 to creatively design a symbol representing the 2024 election season. The county enlisted the help of art teachers, high school liaisons, and the school district, and promoted the contest through newsletters, web posts, and local news outlets. The competition was designed to educate students on the importance of voting and to inspire community engagement, unity, and pride. In 2024, there were 146 submissions, including 133 from elementary students. The Election Department selected finalists, and the community voted on them. One winning design showcases a bright yellow sunrise over a mesa, with the words “I Voted Colorado” in black. Another depicts blue mountains under a yellow sun, surrounded by greenery, with the bright yellow and red of Colorado’s flag forming the ground. At the bottom, "I Voted" appears in black above an American flag and "2024" in red, white, and blue. A third winning sticker features an artistic rendition of ripe Palisade peaches and pink peach flowers, with a peach tree in the background and the words “I Voted” in black at the bottom. The last design presents a vibrant red and yellow sunset over the mountains, with water in the foreground and the words “I Voted” in black to the side of the mountains.
Full Submission Materials
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Large Jurisdictions
Board of Elections in the City of New York - Battle of the Boroughs
The “Battle of the Boroughs" campaign successfully increased voter turnout during the final weekend of early voting by offering limited-edition borough specific "I Voted" stickers. This initiative, aimed at capturing the unique spirit of New York City's five boroughs, led to a record-breaking 149,319 voters on the final day of early voting—the highest turnout for early voting in the city's history. This surge in early voting illustrates how small, creative initiatives can significantly enhance voter participation. Five circular stickers featured iconic images and landmarks for each New York borough. The Bronx sticker reads “The Bronx Votes Early” in white letters against a red background, with the Rainey Memorial Gates-a historic entrance at the Bronx Zoo-depicted in a dark blue stencil at the center. On the Staten Island sticker, “Staten Island Votes Early” is written in white lettering against a dark blue background, with the Staten Island Ferry illustrated in red, gray, and blue at the center. The Queens sticker shows “Queens Votes Early” in white letters against a red background, with the Unisphere—a spherical stainless-steel representation of the Earth commissioned for the 1964 New York World’s Fair—in the middle. The Brooklyn sticker reads “Brooklyn Votes Early” in white letters against a red background, featuring the Brooklyn Bridge illustrated in blue and gray at the center. Lastly, the Manhattan sticker has “Manhattan Votes Early” in white lettering against a dodger blue background, with a navy-blue image of the Empire State Building in the middle.
Full Submission Materials
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Division of Elections, State of Alaska - Alaska Celebrates Five Regions – One State
Alaska is the largest state geographically in the United States and one of the most linguistically diverse, with a wide array of languages spoken across its 401 voting precincts. The Alaska Division of Elections commissioned artist James Johnson for its sticker design, themed “Five Regions – One State.” His design honors indigenous artistic traditions, featuring a raven and an eagle abstractly arranged within a designated space, representing the two primary clans of the Tlingit people. Around an abstract figure, each sticker bears the text “I Voted” in Yup’ik, Inupiaq, Aleut, and English in a font that matches the sticker’s border. The first sticker is rectangular with a border of light and medium purple. At the center is an eagle depicted in red, black, and teal on a white background. The second design is a square white sticker with a grey and navy border. The center showcases a black, red, and teal human figure seated on a white background. The third design is a rectangular white sticker with a light and medium aqua blue border. In the center is a raven illustrated in black, red, and teal on a white background.
Full Submission Materials
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Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office, Florida - Two Unique Accessible Braille Stickers for Voters
The 2024 general election in Palm Beach County included a groundbreaking initiative, introducing two Braille “I Voted” stickers. This effort was designed to ensure all voters in Palm Beach County could experience the pride of receiving their “I Voted” sticker when casting their ballot. The new initiative was launched in partnership with Pyramid, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides visual and performing arts training programs for individuals with disabilities. The result of this collaboration is an innovative and vibrant sticker that captures the essence of Palm Beach County while promoting diversity and inclusion for all voters. The first sticker shows a pink flamingo (a Florida icon) front and center, with its wing forming the American Sign Language sign for "I voted." Oranges and orange blossoms decorate the background, and a sunset over the water, with palm trees, adds to the tropical, beachy vibe. The word “Voted” is written in a white script, standing out against the sunset. The second sticker features a patriotic theme with the "O" in “VOTED” replaced by a stylized American flag. A raised hand with an extended index finger to the left symbolizes civic action, and above "VOTED" are Braille dots, making it inclusive and accessible. Palm trees at the bottom tie in Palm Beach’s coastal identity. A bold red, white, and blue color scheme reflects American national pride.
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