The Annual Awards Recognize Best Practices in Election Administration;
Entries Due February 14, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) opened the submission period for the ninth annual national Clearinghouse Awards, also known as “The Clearies.” This award program recognizes the exceptional and innovative work of election offices across the country during the 2024 election cycle and their invaluable role in the foundation of U.S. election infrastructure.
Programs are judged on creativity and innovation, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and impact by a committee of peers. Any program used in an election can be submitted for consideration, and election jurisdictions of all sizes are encouraged to participate. The Clearies are just one way the EAC advances its mission to be a source of election administration best practices and showcase outstanding programs that other election offices may implement to better serve voters.
EAC Chairman Ben Hovland, Vice Chair Donald Palmer, and Commissioners Thomas Hicks and Christy McCormick highlighted the importance of the awards in a joint statement:
“The hard work and ingenuity of election officials is never more evident than in a presidential election cycle. The high voter turnout and increased attention to the security and efficiency of elections put officials under the microscope last year, and they rose to the occasion. The 2024 elections ran smoothly and that was partly due to the impressive preparation of election officials and their staffs handling everything from faux bomb threats to hurricanes. To recognize this, the EAC is introducing the Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts award category. We are pleased to honor the commitment of election officials and their importance to our democracy with the 2024 Clearies.”
All entries must be received by February 14, 2025, with the honorees to be announced in the spring. Visit www.eac.gov/clearies to view all of the submission guidelines. All entries and accompanying materials must be submitted through the EAC’s online form.
The 2024 Clearies Award categories are:
- Accessibility: Best Practices for Improving Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities
- Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives
- Contingency Planning (new category for 2024): Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts
- Election Administration: Innovations or New Practices in Election Administration
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Grants: Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Election Modernization
- Poll Workers: Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers
- Security: Innovation and New Tools in Election Security and Technology
- “I Voted” Stickers: Creative and Original “I Voted” Stickers
Information on the contest and 2023 Clearies winners can be found at www.eac.gov/clearies. Please send any questions to the EAC at [email protected].
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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.