Lake County Elections Office Wins National Accessibility Award

The Lake County Supervisor of Elections Office received a Clearinghouse Award from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for its remote ballot marking system that works with screen readers, magnification, voice navigation, and alternative input devices.

Since implementing the program, absentee ballot use among voters with disabilities increased 38 percent. The EAC, an independent bipartisan federal agency, presents the awards annually to recognize best practices in election administration. The commission received nearly 200 entries this year from across the country.

Vote-by-Mail Manager Michelle Mohney developed the system. "I have the pleasure of working with a team of champions," Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays said. "Michelle recognized a need and worked diligently to build a bridge to expand voting access to community members."

The commission judged submissions on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and results. The awards marked their 10th anniversary this year and span nine categories including accessibility, communications, contingency planning, and security.