The City of Milton's municipal election has been recognized on a national scale for its grassroots marketing campaign, collecting kudos for spreading the word about the election process. This city's creative efforts in communicating election details fetched a second-place honor in the "Grassroots Marketing Campaign" category of the National Association of Government Communicators' Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards, as reported by the City of Milton's official news release.
The City of Milton's approach was part of a significant group, with 361 entries and 100 winners selected. This historic and multi-faceted outreach overtook even state-level competitors, including the State of North Dakota. December last year saw the City Council decide to independently run its own municipal election, marking the event with noteworthy staff dedication and execution. There was a noted need to quickly and efficiently inform the public, especially as the election logistics were entirely unfamiliar to many.
An integral component of Milton's campaign was its communication strategy, employing various methods to engage the public. These strategies were highlighted in a robust, specialized Elections webpage brimming with resources and regularly updated content. Social media played a role as well, with Milton's platforms sharing regular, engaging, and understandable posts.
The City didn't stop there; they considered it critical to far and wide share messages. Utilizing community influencers, such as HOA members and school affiliates, they managed to create an informed citizenry. Additional outreach was conducted at Milton’s communities events, with signage strategically placed in areas including parks and City facilities. A custom one-page mailer was even sent to all Milton homeowners, tucked into property tax bills, as a means to ensure maximum outreach.
Praise poured in from the National Association of Government Communicators awards panel, with commendations for what was described as "documented results." As the City of Milton news release notes, one panel member admired the effort as “quick and efficient with limited resources,” and another succinctly expressed, “Incredible work!” Clearly, Milton’s commitment to keeping its citizens informed about the mechanics and importance of their municipal voting process did not go unnoticed, and has set a precedent for grassroots communication campaigns to follow.
