Press Release: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office Receives National Recognition for Election Administration Excellence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2023

CONTACT: Alison Novoa | (561) 946-5344 | alison@votepalmbeach.gov

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office Receives National Recognition for Election Administration Excellence

Elections Team Wins 3 Awards from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for Innovation, Sustainability, and Replicability

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections (“SOE”) office proudly announces its recognition for excellence in election administration. The SOE received three awards, the most awarded to any county in the entire country. Palm Beach County was awarded one prestigious National Clearinghouse Award (or “Clearie”) and two Clearie Honorable Mention awards. Presented by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), these awards celebrate innovative, sustainable, cost-effective, and replicable programs implemented during the 2022 midterms.

The Supervisor of Elections office secured a Clearie Award for Outstanding Innovations in Elections – Large Jurisdictions for their Early Voting Appointment System. The SOE also won two Clearie Honorable Mention awards: Outstanding Election Official State Association Program or Local Office for their pilot program utilizing the Election Systems & Software (ES&S) Accessible ExpressVote Machine for Early Voting, as well as Creative and Original “I Voted” Sticker Design award for encouraging local Palm Beach County Schools to participate in the Supervisor of Elections' Sticker Contest.

• Promoting Effectualness by Minimizing Lines and Wait Times: First County in the Country to Use the No Wait Inside Appointment System for Elections (Outstanding Innovations in Elections – Large Jurisdictions Clearie Award Winner)
• Using the ES&S Accessible ExpressVote Machine as the Primary Marking Device for Early Voting (Outstanding Election Official State Association Program or Local Office Clearie Honorable Mention Award Winner)
• Local Palm Beach County Schools Participate in the Supervisor of Elections' Sticker Contest (Creative and Original "I Voted" Stickers Clearie Honorable Mention Award Winner)

Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link expressed immense pride in the Elections Office's accomplishments, acknowledging the unparalleled innovation and foresight demonstrated by the Elections Team, saying “We are honored to be recognized with multiple National Clearinghouse Awards, a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team. This recognition reflects not only our tireless pursuit of excellence but also our unwavering commitment to serving the public and safeguarding the integrity of our electoral process. We will continue to explore innovative solutions, embrace emerging technologies, and proactively address the evolving needs of our diverse electorate, ensuring that every eligible voter can participate in a fair, secure, and transparent electoral process.”

The Early Voting Appointment System revolutionized the voting experience by introducing a virtual waiting room cloud application. This program allowed voters to make appointments at their convenience, receive timely notifications, and skip the line during their appointment window, resulting in quick and hassle-free voting.

The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office’s pilot program utilizing the Election Systems & Software (ES&S) ExpressVote machines involved the use of the ExpressVote machines as the primary marking device in every Early Voting location within Palm Beach County for the Congressional District 20 Special Election. The innovative effort improved accessibility for voters, shortened wait times, and lowered costs for Palm Beach County. The initiative received a 100% satisfaction rating on the exit survey cards provided to voters, thus proving its efficiency and overall success. 

Additionally, the Elections Office challenged Palm Beach County Middle School and High School students to design the new "I Voted” stickers. Over 400 County Middle School and High School students accepted the challenge and submitted entries to design the new sticker. The winning sticker was distributed to celebrate election day at the polls in 2022 for the Primary and General Election. The sticker allows voters to express their civic pride and encourage others to vote and participate in receiving their unique sticker representing Palm Beach County.

The Clearie Awards program plays a crucial role in the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's mission to provide election administration information and recognize outstanding achievements. Judged on various criteria, including innovation, sustainability, outreach, and replicability, the awardees exemplify the efforts to enhance the security, accessibility, and technological advancement of elections.

“The spotlight on U.S. elections has never been brighter, and the EAC is pleased to honor the work of these offices to make elections more secure, technologically advanced, and accessible to voters,” said EAC Chairwoman Christy McCormick, Vice Chair Ben Hovland, Commissioner Donald Palmer, and Commissioner Thomas Hicks in a joint statement. “Especially as election administrators prepare for the 2024 presidential election, we encourage them to review the great work of these Clearie Award-winning jurisdictions for ideas they may want to replicate in their communities.”  

For more information on the Clearie Awards and the winning programs, please visit eac.gov.

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