The MiExcellence Awards are an opportunity for your peers to publicly say “well done” at the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerk’s Summer Conference. It is also a platform in which members can share their successful practices with each other. Communities, not individuals, are recognized for their projects. Award descriptions are below.
Excellence in Overall Best Practices
Bloomfield Township: Election Education Communication Plan
“As election laws continue to change and grow more complex, the need for clear and effective voter education will only become more crucial. It is vital that clerks’ offices continue to play an active role in providing residents with accurate, accessible information so they are not left relying on potentially unreliable or misleading sources. In 2024, to help voters navigate the changes and refresh their understanding of the voting process, the Bloomfield Township Clerk’s Office prepared a communication plan that included consistent election messages across print, video, website, and social media.”
City of Plymouth: Kids Voting
“Kids Voting has been a part of City of Plymouth elections for several years, but for the 2024 General Election, we chose to include our future voters in the early voting process. Each child that came with their parents to vote in-person (either during early voting or on election day) received a ballot of their own. Kid’s ballots featured relatable items, such as ice cream flavor, superhero, City Park, color, City vehicle and meal, and they selected which of the options were their favorites. Additionally, there was an open-ended section at the bottom of the ballot for City improvement suggestions.”
Excellence in Use of Technology/Innovation
City of Ann Arbor: The Ann Arbor Elections Media Hub
“The Ann Arbor Elections Media Hub is a website created by the City of Ann Arbor Communications Office and the City Clerk. It was designed to ensure accurate, reliable information is readily available for members of the media reporting on elections, as well as to be a resource for election officials and community members. The Elections Media Hub makes access to information easier and more transparent for the media, assisting them in meeting their pressing deadlines, and reduces the burden on staff of responding to constant media inquiries during the busiest time of the year. Instead of fielding multiple phone calls or emails requesting the same information again and again, our team can first direct the bulk of the election inquiries to our Media Hub. Using the online Hub, we can easily update and distribute news releases, share deadlines, media instructions, and other documents.”
Excellence in Use of Recruiting, Retaining, & Training Pollworkers
City of Kalamazoo: Civic Engagement Talent Coordinator
“Our office recognizes one of the most important pieces of a smooth election day is the election workers you place in your precincts. Election Workers are the backbone of our operations: they are the ones who directly engage the voters, and they are the central point where our training, processes, and technology converge. We realized it was time for the Clerk’s Office to have a permanent staff member to own the election worker coordination process in a focused way. So, in 2023 the City Clerk’s Office proposed the creation of a new position – the Civic Engagement Talent Coordinator. This position was approved as part of the City’s 2024 budget.”
City of Portage: Election Worker Training Labs
“The pace of change in both state and federal election administration has experienced a swift uptick in recent years – even between elections in the same year. The Portage City Clerk’s Office would experience promising engagement, receiving positive feedback from poll workers following training sessions. Yet, staff began to experience unpredictable behaviors from poll workers come election day. It was decided that poll worker training must be flexible to match updated expectations and skill sets. Where lecture-based learning was previously sufficient, hands-on practice must now be incorporated, especially in light of the projected new applicant pool.”
Submissions were judged on:
Innovation: The submission presents new and original ideas.
Sustainability: The submitted program will provide long-term benefits, can be maintained at its current level, and can be expanded as the need arises.
Outreach Efforts: The organization successfully raises awareness and involves the community. Public engagement is encouraged through educational presentations, community outreach activities, workshops, social media postings, and other methods.
Cost-effectiveness: The submitted program produces positive results while exercising disciplined spending parameters.
Replicability: The submission can be reproduced by other officials and will achieve similar results. With modification, the program can be altered to address changing circumstances or the needs of other jurisdictions.
Generating Positive Results: The submitted program attains successful outcomes. Program outcomes are quantifiable and measurable.