The U.S. Election Assistance Committee (EAC) announced Thursday the winners for the sixth 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.
The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office received two awards for 2021:
- Outstanding Innovations in Elections (Large Jurisdictions): Development of Professional Certificate in Election Administration, Technology and Security Program
- Outstanding Election Official Association Program: Indiana County Clerks Association and Indiana Election Division
“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.