Sarasota Elections Office Wins 5 National Awards

The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office earned five national awards for its work improving voting procedures and voter communication.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission presented two 2025 Clearie Awards. The first recognized "The Logic & Accuracy Show: Turning Compliance into Choreography," which transformed a required pre-election test into a scripted, stage-style demonstration. Staff synchronized tasks and cues to showcase the office's expertise and integrity to the public.

The second award honored "150 Feet of Clarity: Proactive Outreach for a Positive Voting Experience." Staff created a multi-channel campaign explaining Florida's 150-foot no-solicitation zone around polling places. They provided tailored guidance to candidates, parties, facility managers, voters, and poll workers, reducing conflicts at voting sites.

The office also received a 2025 Honorable Mention for "Clarity Meets Accessibility: A Unified Signage System for Voters." Staff redesigned polling place signs with clearer visuals and simpler language, improving the voting experience and poll worker efficiency.

Election Center, the National Association of Election Officials, awarded the office the 2025 People's Choice Award for "Planning for Elections in a Changing Landscape." Staff analyzed growth projections and voter patterns to guide a 2023 reprecincting effort that revised eight precincts, created four new ones, and added nine polling locations.

The office also holds a 2024 Honorable Mention for creative "I Voted" stickers and a 2023 Honorable Mention for developing an automated system to scan and track returned vote-by-mail ballots, saving hours of work and improving accuracy.