U.S. Election Assistance Commission Announces 2021 Clearinghouse Award Winners

The Annual Clearinghouse Awards Recognize 20 Jurisdictions for Best Practices in Election Administration.

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Election Assistance Committee (EAC) today announced the winners for 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 Supervisor of Elections (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

Sante 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.”