In the News

Board of Elections wins U.S. Election Assistance Commission National Clearinghouse Award

On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration (BEVR) was recognized with a 2022 national Clearinghouse Award. Also known as the "Clearies," the honors are awarded by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in celebration of innovation and service by election offices across the country.

BEVR's Partnerships at the Polls, which includes the Adopt a Polling Location (APL) and Day for Democracy (DFD) programs, won in the "Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers" category. BEVR's initiative was one of 24 programs recognized during the 2022 midterms.

"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."

The EAC is an independent, federal agency that focuses on election administration. According to award organizers, entrants were judged based on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and the generation of positive results.

"Receiving a Clearinghouse Award for best practices in poll worker recruitment and retention is a testament to our unwavering commitment to democracy. We firmly believe that the strength of our elections is centered in the dedication and integrity of those who serve as the backbone of our electoral process,” stated BEVR Executive Director Isaac Cramer. “Winning this prestigious recognition is a resounding affirmation of our tireless efforts to cultivate a diverse and engaged poll worker community, empowering every citizen to actively participate in shaping our nation's future."

APL gives non-partisan groups the opportunity to "adopt" a polling location on Election Day. Staffers from each organization are trained to serve as poll managers. Their pay for working the day is then donated directly to a local nonprofit of choice, reinvesting the funds into the community. Six organizations participated in the program in 2022, raising more than $10,000 throughout the year.

DFD provides Charleston County employees with training and additional pay for working at the polls on Election Day. Charleston County workers can further serve their community without needing to take paid time off to perform this civic duty. With DFD, voters can benefit by receiving reliable staffing and professional service, while trust is also built between Charleston County's employees and the citizens they serve. 128 Charleston County workers participated in the inaugural DFD initiative. An after-action survey found that nearly 95% of respondents said they would participate again.

BEVR plans to build upon the success of both programs within Partnerships at the Polls for many years to come. If you are interested in having your organization participate in APL, visit CHSVotes.gov to learn more.

Board Of Elections, Stingrays raise thousands of dollars for CCPL's Free & Fresh program

The Charleston County Board of Elections & Voter Registration (BEVR) once again partnered with the South Carolina Stingrays to assist Charleston County Public Library's (CCPL) Free & Fresh program.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, the Stingrays donned specialty "Get Out and Vote" jerseys while skating to a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Gladiators. Those jerseys were then auctioned off, garnering $3,500 in funding for the library's community fridge program.

The night also served as a celebration of local poll workers while encouraging Charleston County residents to vote in the 2022 General Election. Turnout for the midterm surpassed 58% in the county, which was several percentage points higher than the state's average of about 51%.

Additionally, in June, the Stingrays joined our Adopt a Polling Location initiative. Those participants donated their pay for working the election back to the library to support the free food project.

In total, BEVR and the Stingrays raised $5,260 throughout 2022 for CCPL's Free & Fresh program.

We are proud of this fantastic achievement and appreciate our shared goal of serving Charleston County residents. BEVR is looking forward to continuing this wonderful partnership in 2023.

If you are interested in adopting a polling location with your group or organization, visit CHSVotes.gov to learn how you can get involved.

Charleston County Elections, Frothy Beard Brewing Co. Partner for National Voter Registration Day Celebration

The Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration and Frothy Beard Brewing Company are coming together for National Voter Registration Day!

The day, slated for Tuesday, Sept. 20 in 2022, aims to register new voters and helps ensure those who are eligible to vote are prepared for the upcoming General Election in November.

From 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., the Charleston County Elections team will be at the brewery to provide various voter services including: voter registration, poll worker signups, and making sure voters are vote ready.

In honor of the event, Frothy Beard will also rerelease the "I Voted" Kolsch beer on a limited run. The special brew was initially released as a collaborative effort between the brewery and Charleston County Elections in 2021. The beer will once again be available for purchase during this year's event.

Attendees will also be able to enjoy live music, as well as receive free CHS Votes gear!

Election Day is Nov. 8, 2022. Polls will be open in Charleston County from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

More information on September's event can be found here:

FACEBOOK EVENT: National Voter Registration Day at Frothy Beard Brewing Company

Voter Registration Citizen Communication Team Wins County Award for Efforts to Notify Voters

The Charleston County Board Of Elections & Voter Registration's Voter Registration Citizen Communication Team has been recognized for its efforts to inform voters. The team, which includes Dakota Blitch, Maybell Brown, Barbara Kennedy, Matthew Kibbey and Ben Leeson, was the recipient of a Charleston County Team Award. This comes after the group utilized postcards to notify the public of important district changes and the subsequent impacts to voters. By using an efficient method to share this information, costs to the county were ultimately reduced by $90,000. The team members collaborated to clearly share details displayed on the postcards and proofed this data with GIS mapping information.

Municipalities

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