Arapahoe County Elections Receives Clearinghouse Award

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — Arapahoe County is among three Colorado counties that received a national award for elections innovation.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a federal body that recognizes election administrators across the country, gave its 2020 Clearinghouse Award to Jefferson, Arapahoe and Boulder counties.

The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder’s Office was recognized for its Curbside Ballot Pickup program in the 2020 election cycle. The service allowed voters to call the county’s elections hotline and schedule a location and time to pick up a mail or a replacement ballot in a designated parking space. Election officials brought the ballot to the voter’s car, checked the voter’s ID, and provided instructions on options to return the voted ballot.

“We developed Curbside Pickup primarily to keep voters and elections judges safe during the pandemic, but it was also popular with voters with disabilities that make going into a voter service center difficult, and voters with tight schedules who were able to schedule a ballot pickup at a location and time that fit their schedules,” said Joan Lopez, Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder.

“It’s terrific to be recognized by the EAC for our work to provide this service, and we look forward to continuing to offer it, and expand it, in future elections.”

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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, which was established by Congress in 2002, is an independent, bipartisan group that serves as a national clearinghouse of best practices for local election officials.

Award categories include innovation in election administration; improving accessibility for voters with disabilities; best practices in recruiting, training, and retaining poll workers; and creative and original “I Voted” sticker design.

Ten national awards were given out in the 2020 Outstanding Innovations in Election category.