South Carolina Recognized for Excellence in Election Administration

Posted on May 23, 2023

Two of 24 Programs Honored by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for Innovation, Sustainability, Replicability

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 23, 2022) – Today, the S.C. State Election Commission (SEC) announced they were recognized by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for excellence in election administration with two National Clearinghouse Awards: one for Outstanding Innovations in Elections and another for the design of South Carolina’s two new “I Voted” stickers.

Also known as the “Clearies,” the EAC presents the awards program annually to celebrate the hard work of election offices across the country. The EAC is an independent, bipartisan federal agency solely focused on election administration and this year’s Clearie Awards honored 24 programs that took place across the country during the 2022 midterms.

The SEC’s Election Response Guide was recognized with the Clearie Award for Outstanding Innovations in Elections for large jurisdictions. The Response Guide is a reference card that was distributed to all county election directors and is small enough to fit inside a wallet for easy access. The cards list talking points, sample media questions, and important contacts to use as a quick guide to help them communicate effectively during a crisis. The SEC’s new “I Voted” stickers also won a Clearie Award for exemplifying outreach and community flair.

“We are thrilled to receive this national recognition,” said Howie Knapp, Executive Director of the SEC. “This is yet another example of South Carolina continuing to be a leader in elections.”

Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and the generation of positive results. This year’s awards categories included:

Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Elections Modernization
Outstanding Election Official State Association Program or Local Office
Outstanding Innovation in Election Cybersecurity and Technology
Improving Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities
Outstanding Innovations in Elections – Large Jurisdictions
Outstanding Innovations in Elections – Small/Medium Jurisdictions
Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers
Creative and Original “I Voted” Stickers

More information on the Clearies and each awardee is available on eac.gov.

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