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 The EAC is grateful to the election officials and poll workers who support elections. Thank you for your hard work, especially to those who held elections this past year.
To help with your voter engagement efforts ahead of the 2026 midterms, join the EAC for Help America Vote Day on January 27, 2026! The EAC started Help America Vote Day as a way to encourage people to sign up to be a poll worker and understand how to register to vote and cast a ballot. Stay tuned for a toolkit with customizable graphics, social media language, and more, which will be posted at helpamericavote.gov.
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 This month, the EAC is highlighting:
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New Video: Voice of Election Officials |
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EAC Learning Lab: No-cost, On-demand Training for Election Offices |
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EAC Memo on USPS Price Updates |
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Voter List Maintenance Report |
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Election Technology Updates |
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Clearie Award Winners Spotlight & More! |
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EAC's Voice of Election Officials Video
As part of our “thank you” for another successful year, the EAC has released a new video spotlighting the stories of election officials and the care they put into running elections. Available as 30-second and 90-second versions, these videos are designed for election offices to post on social media, their websites, and more to educate the public on what they do for their community and support recruitment and training efforts.
Thank you to all of the election officials who participated. Your voices put a face to the profession and reflect the bipartisan/nonpartisan, mission-driven nature of elections.
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EAC Learning Lab: No-cost, On-demand Training for Election Offices!
 EAC Learning Lab is a no-cost, online training platform designed to help election officials boost their skills and stay ahead in an evolving election landscape. Whether you’re new to election administration or have served for years, full-time or part-time, the Learning Lab delivers the knowledge you need, when you need it. Thirty-two training modules are now available for election officials!
What you’ll find in the Learning Lab:
Practical training for all levels of experience. From poll worker training to contingency management, you’ll find beginner and advanced courses covering the full spectrum of election administration.
Flexible, on-demand format. Train on your schedule – without travel or costs. You’ll find short video and interactive lessons ideal for busy offices and election officials balancing multiple roles.
Content that’s always evolving. Stay current as new content is added that reflects the latest best practices in elections.
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If you aren't an election official, you can view the training videos on the EAC's YouTube channel.
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Newly Added Election Official Accessibility Training Series
Election officials already using the Learning Lab will notice the EAC has recently added more accessibility training videos. Topics include voter registration, in-person voting, and vote by mail. Poll workers and other election stakeholders may watch these videos on the EAC’s YouTube Channel.
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EAC Memo on USPS Price Updates
The EAC has issued a new memo on the price updates the United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced for early 2026 that may affect election operations. First-Class Mail stamp prices will remain at 78 cents in January, but a mid-year increase is likely. Shipping services, such as Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and USPS Ground Advantage, will see rate increases on January 18, 2026.
This memo provides a summary of these changes and highlights how they may affect election-related mailing and shipping activities. You can also find other election mail resources and best practices on the EAC’s website.
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The EAC Directs Review of End-of-Life (EoL) Voting Systems to Strengthen Election Technology
In September, the EAC met with registered voting system manufacturers to initiate a formal End-of-Life (EoL) review of certified systems that are no longer supported or active for potential decommissioning or withdrawal from service. Manufacturers were directed to identify systems that have reached the end of their operational lifecycle and submit them for classification.
This review ensures that the certified system landscape remains current and supports election officials in making informed, secure technology decisions. Information on the EAC’s Testing and Certification program including certified voting systems, registered manufacturers, accredited voting system testing laboratories, and more is available on the EAC’s website
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Voter List Maintenance Study: The Use of Third-Party Commercial Data for Accurate Voter Lists
Voter list maintenance processes help ensure accurate and current voter registration databases. While federal law sets basic requirements, each state determines the specifics of what and how often activities are performed.
Prompted by Orange County, California, successfully using a third-party credit bureau’s address database to supplement records, the EAC researched the use of this method for other jurisdictions. The research suggests that using credit bureaus may be a useful supplemental tool for list maintenance. This report details the study, recommendations, and conclusions.
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The EAC Hears from Election Officials on Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery
 EAC Chairman Donald Palmer and Commissioners Thomas Hicks and Ben Hovland meet with election officials in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
On September 25, the EAC convened a group of election officials in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to discuss methods and tools election administrators can use to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters. It included discussions on how election officials can respond and recover from hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other emergencies that can disrupt voting. The meeting featured 16 state and local election officials, representing 15 jurisdictions from across the country.
Lessons derived from the meeting, as well as from other conversations the EAC has held with stakeholders, will inform upcoming work products the agency will develop to help election officials prepare for future emergencies. For existing resources, including information related to continuity of operations planning, visit eac.gov/recovery.
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Clearinghouse Awards 10th Anniversary: Winners Spotlight
Lexington County Voter Registration and Elections, South Carolina, 2024 Clearie Award Winner
The EAC is celebrating the 10 years of Clearinghouse Awards in 2026. Also known as “the Clearies,” these awards highlight best practices in election administration and applaud the accomplishments of election officials nationwide.
To kick off the 10th anniversary, the EAC is spotlighting previous Clearie winners, starting with Lexington County Voter Registration and Elections in South Carolina.
The office received a 2024 Clearie Award for Contingency Planning: Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts. Check out this new blog post featuring a Q&A with Lenice Shoemaker, Director of Lexington County Voter Registration and Elections, on its award-winning Emergency Flip Book and Election Clerk Situation Training Program.
The submission period for the 10th annual national Clearinghouse Awards opens on January 12, 2026. Information on how to apply will be available early next year at eac.gov/clearies.
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EAC in the News
Chairman Donald Palmer Featured in Journal of Election Administration, Research, and Practice
In November 2025, Chairman Donald Palmer had an article published in the Journal of Election Administration, Research, and Practice. In the article, "A Look at the U.S. Election Landscape with Donald Palmer," he outlines the EAC's accomplishments and his thoughts on the future of U.S. elections.
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