The Thurston County Auditor's Office has been spotlighted on the national stage, taking home the Clearinghouse Award for its voter education and communication efforts. Recognized by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the "Your Neighbors, Your Elections" video series was crowned for excellence - a move underscoring the effectiveness of storytelling in democratic processes. In an innovative twist, it's the everyday stories of local residents, who ensure the integrity and accuracy of elections, that the series casts as heroes.
Named top dog in the "Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives (Large Jurisdictions)" category for 2024, the video project aims to put a face to the names on election staff badges. "Our goal is to humanize elections. It’s so important for people to know that election workers aren’t strangers. They’re your next-door neighbors, your brother, your grandmother," Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor, told ThurstonCountyWA.gov. In an era beleaguered by misinformation, these personal narratives help weave a fabric of trust within the community.
Not resting on their laurels, the Auditor's Office also snagged an honorable mention in the Accessibility category for the "Expanding Access: Public Transit Partnerships for Accessible Elections" initiative. Extending bus service hours on Election Day, they tailored a system to fit the schedules and needs of voters, requiring an accessible voting experience. By aligning ballot drop box and Voting Center locations with transit maps, and through the agency of community vanpools, the program demonstrated that inclusion can be both innovative and cost-effective.
The Auditor's Office is no stranger to acclaim, previously earning an EAC honorable mention for its expanded election observer program and boasting no less than four National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards in the recent span of years. With 18 consecutive Annual Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association under its belt, the office has also swept up several statewide honors, including "Auditor of the Year" and "Elections Employee of the Year." It's not just about the awards for Hall and her team, though. "We continue to strive every year to improve how we do our work," she explained.
