Media release from Floyd County, GA:
Floyd County Elections Supervisor Akyn Beck has announced they were recognized for excellence in election administration with a national Clearinghouse Award for Communications. Now in its 10th year, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) presents these awards annually to recognize best practices in election administration. This year’s winning programs took place during the 2025 election cycle.
The Floyd County Election Office’s Hey, Neighbor campaign was one of 46 programs that were recognized with a Clearinghouse Award. Hey, Neighbor, is a community-based voter education campaign that uses friendly, neighbor-to-neighbor messaging to make election information clear and accessible. At its core is a refrigerator magnet with a QR code linking to a centralized webpage with early voting details, the My Voter Page, and the full election calendar. The Hey Neighbor theme extends across print, social media, press releases, and a quarterly newspaper column that addresses community questions in a conversational, nonpartisan tone. By combining consistent branding, trusted local media, and centralized information, the program reduces confusion, highlights accurate information, and fosters cost-effective election administration. For voters, Hey Neighbor improves access to clear, timely, and trustworthy election information, increasing confidence and reducing confusion.
“At the heart of Hey, Neighbor is a commitment to the voters, making election information clear, accessible, and trustworthy so people can participate with confidence. That impact will always matter most,” said Election Supervisor Akyn Beck. “Receiving a “Clearie” for this work is truly an honor and a meaningful reminder that thoughtful, community-focused outreach can make a real difference. Recognition like this is incredibly rewarding, and we are grateful for it.”
Also known as the “Clearies,” these awards play an essential role in fulfilling the EAC’s mission to serve as a clearinghouse for election administration information under the Help America Vote Act. The EAC is an independent, bipartisan federal agency solely focused on election administration. Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and the generation of positive results.
EAC Chairman Thomas Hicks, Vice Chair Christy McCormick, and Commissioner Ben Hovland issued the following joint statement:
“We congratulate this year’s Clearinghouse Award winners for their exceptional programs. We received nearly 200 entries from across the country, and these were the most innovative and creative ways state and local election officials supported voters in 2025. The winning programs also stood out because they can be replicated and scaled to meet the needs of other election offices, regardless of size or resources, for future elections.
This is a special year for the Clearinghouse Awards, not only for the caliber of the winners but also for the 10th anniversary of the awards. Over the past decade, we have seen shining examples of election officials’ creativity, spirit, and drive to serve their communities. This year is no different. The EAC is pleased to provide a national platform and commemorate their hard work.”
This year’s award categories include:
- Accessibility: Best Practices for Improving Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities
- Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives
- Contingency Planning: Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts
- Election Administration: Innovations or New Practices in Election Administration
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Grants: Outstanding Use of HAVA Grants in Elections Modernization
- Poll Workers: Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers
- Security: Innovation and New Tools in Election Security and Technology
- Uniformed and Overseas Voters: Exemplary Service to Assist Military and Overseas Voters
- “I Voted” Stickers: Creative and Original “I Voted” Stickers
More information on the “Clearies” and each awardee is available on eac.gov/clearies.
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