OTTAWA COUNTY— The Elections Division of The Ottawa County Clerk’s Office has received national recognition for its innovative approach to helping voters understand the election process.
The office was announced as a winner of a national Clearinghouse Award for Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on Wednesday, April 16.
The award recognizes innovation, sustainability and replicability in election administration during the 2024 presidential election. Ottawa County was one of 53 programs across the country recognized.
Ottawa County earned the award for its “Not a Podcast – Ballots and Banter” series, created in collaboration with the Ottawa County Communications Department.
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The series of short videos with Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck and Elections Supervisor Katie Bard addressed topics such as voter registration, election security, how to obtain absentee ballots and more. The goal was to deliver clear and accessible voter information by using a casual podcast format.
“As election officials, it’s critical that we communicate information to voters in the many ways they receive their information,” Roebuck wrote in a release. “I’m so proud of our innovative Elections Team and thankful for the partnership we have with our County Communications Department. This national award is a well-deserved recognition of their collaboration to educate voters.”
The series was initially posted on Facebook and Instagram, but can also be viewed on YouTube.
Campaign supporters watch the news as election results are announced in Holland on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The EAC is an independent, bipartisan federal agency solely focused on election administration. The organization’s Clearinghouse Awards, also known as Clearies, are presented annually and are now in their ninth year.
Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability and the generation of positive results, according to a release.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava .
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa County Elections wins national award for voter education series
