WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) released “Communications 101 for Election Officials,” a free, on-demand video training series covering tools and strategies election officials can use to communicate with voters and other stakeholders. Each video, available on the EAC’s YouTube channel, is between three and five minutes long and is designed to fit into an election official’s busy schedule.
Developed to supplement training local election administrators receive from their state officials and associations, these short, practical resources incorporate topics like writing key messages, identifying spokespeople, and choosing appropriate communication channels. The series’ guidance is broadly applicable and useful no matter the size or location of the election office.
EAC Chairman Ben Hovland, Vice Chair Donald Palmer, Commissioner Thomas Hicks, and Commissioner Christy McCormick issued the following joint statement on this new resource:
Effective public communication is critical for helping eligible Americans vote and have confidence in the election process. Cutting through the noise of a presidential election year with basic voting information can be particularly difficult, especially for offices lacking dedicated communications staff and funding. This video series provides recommendations and guidance to enhance current communications, find new opportunities to reach voters, and plan for whatever challenge may arise. The EAC is excited to offer training programs for election officials that are both accessible and relevant for the work at hand.
Election officials throughout the nation continue to be the primary authority on election administration and the voting process. The EAC’s training series promotes ways election officials can communicate critical voting and election information to a variety of audiences, serving as a trusted source of information regardless of the jurisdiction’s size or available resources.
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) tasked the EAC with creating and maintaining a clearinghouse of election administration information. To fulfill this mission, the EAC provides best practices, recommendations, training materials, and other resources for election officials. This video series is one of a growing library of election administration resources produced by the EAC. By providing election officials with timely, practical guidance on communicating with stakeholders, the EAC aims to improve the availability of trustworthy voting information for all.
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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. The 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.