Press Release
The Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration's Partnerships at the Polls initiative was recognized with a national Clearinghouse Award. Also known as the “Clearies,” the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) presents the awards program annually to celebrate the hard work of election offices across the country. Charleston County was recognized in the “Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers” category for the Adopt a Polling Location and Day for Democracy programs.
“Receiving national recognition from the EAC is a testament to our team's unwavering commitment to democracy and to Charleston County voters,” said Board of Elections and Voter Registration Director Isaac Cramer. “The tremendous success of these new programs has strengthened our recruitment abilities as we continually look to train highly skilled poll workers while giving back to the citizens we serve.”
Through Adopt a Polling Location, the Board of Elections and Voter Registration partners with local organizations who “adopt” polling locations on Election Day by having their teams serve as election workers. Organizations can then use the funds earned from their work to support a local nonprofit within the community. This partnership enables the Board of Elections and Voter Registration to staff polling locations with well-trained workers while funding is reinvested into Charleston County. Six organizations participated in the program in 2022, raising $9,800 throughout the year.
Day for Democracy offers Charleston County employees the opportunity to serve as election workers without using their paid time off, building relationships among our workforce and highlighting their dedication to public service. 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 Day for Democracy initiative. An after-action survey found 95% of respondents said they would participate again.
Partnerships at the Polls gives voters reliably staffed polling locations while providing the County with another outlet to support the community and reduce administrative burden. These initiatives minimize the time and effort spent recruiting and retaining poll workers through traditional methods. The Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration is actively building off the success of these programs by recruiting new participants for upcoming elections. Those interested in having their organization participate in Adopt a Polling Location can sign up on CHSVotes.gov.
