The U.S. Election Assistance Commission Opens Submissions for 10th Annual Clearinghouse Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) opened the submission period for the 10th annual Clearinghouse Awards , also known as "The Clearies." This national award program recognizes the exceptional and innovative work of election offices across the country during the 2025 election cycle and their invaluable role in the foundation of U.S. election infrastructure.

Programs are judged on creativity and innovation, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and impact by a committee of peers. Any program used in an election can be submitted for consideration, and election jurisdictions of all sizes are encouraged to participate. This year, the EAC is introducing a new category to highlight service to assist military and overseas voters.

All entries must be received by February 20, 2026, with the honorees to be announced in the spring. Visit eac.gov/clearies to view all of the submission guidelines. All entries and accompanying materials must be submitted through the EAC's online form .

The 2025 Clearies Award categories are:

• Accessibility: Best Practices for Improving Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities
• Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives
• Contingency Planning: Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts
• Election Administration: Innovations or New Practices in Election Administration
• Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Grants: Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Elections Modernization
• Poll Workers: Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers
• Security: Innovation and New Tools in Election Security and Technology
• NEW - Uniformed and Overseas Voters: Exemplary Service to Assist Military and Overseas Voters
• "I Voted" Stickers: Creative and Original "I Voted" Stickers

In celebration of 10 years of the Clearinghouse Awards, the EAC is showcasing previous winners in a new blog series . More information on the contest and previous Clearies winners can be found at eac.gov/clearies . Please send any questions to the EAC at [email protected] .

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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate, and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. The EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as administers the use of HAVA funds. For more information, visit www.eac.gov.