FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 21, 2022
U.S. Election Assistance Commission Announces 2021 Clearinghouse Award Winners
The Annual Clearinghouse Awards Recognize 20 Jurisdictions for Best Practices in Election Administration.
WASHINGTON DC - The U.S. Election Assistance Committee (EAC) today announced the winners of the 6th annual Clearinghouse Awards. The awards, also known as the “Clearie” Awards, are presented annually to localities across the U.S. for best practices in election administration. Established in 2002 by the Help America Vote Act (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 the country’s election officials.
This year’s award categories and winners include:
- Outstanding Innovations in Elections ‐ Large Jurisdictions
- Indiana Secretary of State - Development of Professional Certificate in Election Administration, Technology and Security Program
- North Carolina State Board of Elections - HUBS Work Groups
- Pierce County Elections (WA) - Drop Box Chain of Custody
- Wake County Board of Elections (NC) - Data Driven Solutions for Managing Voter Population Growth
- Outstanding Innovations in Elections ‐ Small/Medium Jurisdictions
- Clay County Supervisor of Elections (FL) - Clay County 2022 Elections Expo
- City and County of Denver Elections Division (CO) - Confined Voting Program Expansion
- San Mateo County Department of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer (CA) - Embracing Equity and Inclusion in Elections
- Improving Accessibility For Voters With Disabilities
- Michigan Secretary of State - MICRC Accessibility Support
- Nebraska Secretary of State - Poll Place Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities
- Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers
- Leon County Supervisor of Elections (FL) - Conflict Resolution Traffic Light
- San Mateo County Department of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer (CA) - Increasing Youth Engagement through Student Poll Worker Program
- Wyandotte County Election Office (KS) - Civic Engagement Series - Youth at the Booth
- Creative and Original “I Voted” Sticker Design
- Durham County Board of Elections (NC) - 'I Voted' Sticker Contest
- Maryland State Board of Elections - Student I Voted Sticker Art Contest
- Santa Fe County Clerk (NM) - "I Voted!" Sticker Design Contest
- Outstanding Innovation in Election Cybersecurity and Technology
- Hamilton County Board of Elections (OH) - "Did You Know?" Video Series
- Los Angeles County Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk (CA) - Use of IoT in Tracking Ballot Boxes
- Michigan Secretary of State - MICRC Public Comment Portal
- Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Election Modernization
- Los Angeles County Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk (CA) - Election Worker Disability Awareness Training Video
- Outstanding Election Official Association Program
- Indiana Secretary of State - Indiana County Clerks Association and Indiana Election Division
In addition to the Clearie winners, 14 offices were recognized for Clearie Honorable Mention awards. More information on these winners and their efforts is available here.
“The Clearies give the EAC an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of election officials across the country,” said EAC Chairman Thomas Hicks. “The recipients of these awards should be incredibly proud of the work they did, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Their innovative thinking, resourcefulness, and creativity are now a tentpole for other election administrators to follow and build on.”
EAC Commissioner and 2021 EAC Chairman, Donald Palmer said, “Election officials showed us once again that they are true civic leaders in their communities. The professionalism and sense of purpose they displayed ensured that millions of voters across the U.S. were able to cast their ballots securely and accurately. In the face of unprecedented scrutiny, it is an honor to be able to highlight their innovative work.”
Now in its sixth year, the Clearie Awards recognize the innovative efforts of election officials across America. Entries were judged based on each initiative’s depiction of positive results, innovation, sustainability, outreach efforts, cost-effectiveness, and replicability.
More information about each awardee is available on the EAC’s website.
Winners were selected by independent panels of election officials from the EAC’s advisory boards, with the EAC Commissioners serving as judges for the sticker category. Judges included:
- Innovation in Election Cybersecurity and Technology
- Gail Fenumiai, Director of Elections, State of Alaska (EAC Standards Board Member)
- Rina Fontana Moore, Clerk & Recorder / Elections Administrator, Cascade County, Montana (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Elizabeth Howard, EAC Board of Advisors Member
- Elizabeth Hundley, County Clerk, Livingston County, Michigan (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Shona Mack-Pollock, Superintendent of Elections, Passaic County, New Jersey (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Election Modernization & Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers
- Mary R. Clark, Township Clerk, Delta Charter Township, Michigan (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Shelly Jackson, Deputy Director of Elections, State of Utah (EAC Standards Board Member)
- Susan Kiepke, County Auditor, Davison County, South Dakota (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Dan S. Wallach, EAC Technical Guidelines Development Committee Member
- Innovations in Elections – Large Jurisdictions & Improving Accessibility For Voters With Disabilities
- Heather Carmen, Assistant Registrar of Voters, Washoe County, Nevada (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Batina Dodge, County Clerk, Scotland County, Missouri (EAC Standards Board Member)
- Diane Cordry Golden, EAC Technical Guidelines Development Committee Member
- Ricky Hatch, County Clerk/Auditor, Weber County, Utah (EAC Board of Advisors and Local Leadership Council Member)
- Sherry Poland, Director, Hamilton County Board of Elections, Ohio (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Innovations in Elections – Small/Medium Jurisdictions & Outstanding Election Official Association Program
- Alisha Alexander, Elections Administrator, Prince George’s County, Maryland (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Jeff Hancock, County Clerk, Franklin County, Kentucky (EAC Standards Board Member)
- Michael Stalberger, Director, Property and Environmental Resources, Blue Earth County, Minnesota (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
- Doris Young, Director, Department of Elections, Kent County, Delaware (EAC Local Leadership Council Member)
In a joint statement, all four EAC Commissioners added, “We want to thank the 2021 Clearie judges for taking the time to review the many submissions we received this year and helping us highlight best practices within the field of election administration.”
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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate, and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as administers the use of HAVA funds. For more information, visit www.eac.gov.
EAC Contact: Kristen Muthig Phone: 202-897-9285 Email: [email protected]