It’s all about transparency.
Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department takes voter rights very seriously.
And they are awarded for it.
The county department recently received accolades from two of the nation’s highest public relations honors for their transparency campaign.
“This past spring, at the 81st Annual Silver Anvil Awards in New York, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) presented the Elections Division with the Silver Anvil Award —the PR industry’s top honor — for Public Service and an Award of Excellence for Integrated Communications,” Dawn Kruger, community and media relations coordinator, said.
The media coordinator said the “County’s Elections – More Secure than Ever campaign was selected from entries nationwide for its innovative, community-driven approach to strengthening the public’s understanding of trust in elections.”
“Last year, in light of a growing tide of election misinformation, the Contra Costa County Clerk Recorder Elections Department launched a far-reaching marketing and community engagement campaign,” Kruger said.
“It was to reassure voters of election integrity and security by shining a light on the comprehensive steps taken to deliver on that promise,” Kruger added.
The department governed by County Clerk Recorder Kristin B. Connelly started a multi-faceted marketing campaign to deliver that message.
“In addition to county-wide advertising in print, television, radio and digital media, the campaign also included the recruitment and training of nearly 100 election ambassadors,” Kruger said, of the dedicated volunteers.
The ambassadors, “carried forward the election integrity message through social media channels and speaking engagements around the county,” Kruger said, adding a companion website, www.secure-election.org, was also launched. The secure election site offers a comprehensive collection of videos, fact sheets, Q&As and social media graphics illustrating how Contra Costa County protects its elections.
“All this is complemented by opportunities for the public to observe election activities and the county’s award-winning Certified Election Observer program,” Kruger said. “Contra “Costa County was one of 10 election divisions nationwide to be awarded a grant to improve its election processes and chose to pilot this voter education work.”
The media coordinator said the ambitious and robust campaign reached every resident of the county multiple times and in different ways, hammering home the many steps and precautions in place to ensure only eligible voters vote, that every legitimate vote is counted, and that the county’s election system is secure from fraud.
“The campaign is predicated on transparency, inviting the public to look more closely at how elections are handled and the exhaustive efforts to protect them,” Kruger said.
The department works just has hard “off-election” years as on, according to the media associate. The department website promotes voter registration and interactive maps of voting districts, making it easy for citizens young and old to access.
Speaking of age, the Elections Community Engagement Group (ECEG), established prior to 2002, was another another part of the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department’s efforts to ensure transparency. The ECEG, made up of various community members and community-based organization representatives, provides feedback on future election administration, civic engagement programs and policies and strategies.
The department's history is offered in previously published newsletters on the “What’s New” section of the website.
“Our Office works closely with community members to share information, understand voting needs, and gather feedback,” Kruger said.
For more information on the Contra Costa County Clerk Recorder Elections Department, click here.
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