Case Study: Powering a federal clearinghouse for election officials

"The EAC has a great clearinghouse program that we are now able to tap into, and that's a resource center where we can ask questions like ‘what are you doing to be effective in election administration?’ It's a tool that I applaud EAC for introducing and it helps election officials."

- Isaac Cramer, Executive Director, Charleston County, South Carolina Board of Voter Registration & Elections

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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is an independent, bipartisan commission whose mission is to help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process. Established in 2002, the EAC provides election officials with the critical support they need to maintain and improve election systems. It’s critically important for the EAC to understand the needs of election officials, reach them with helpful information, and establish their brand with locals as trusted partners.

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KEY QUESTION

How can we provide responsive and impactful support to state and local election administrators?

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PROBLEM

Challenges in getting resources to the frontlines

• The EAC plays a crucial role in supporting election administration but struggles with effectively getting resources into the hands of those on the frontlines.
  
• Despite having abundant documentation and resources on its website, the EAC lacks visibility into how these materials are used by local election officials.

Limited impact measurement

• Difficulty in assessing the agency’s responsiveness and impact due to the lack of usage data.
  
• Election officials need quick answers, but available information is often too general and not tailored to local needs.

Need for practical support

• Officials face challenges in translating theoretical guidance into practical application.
  
• A platform is needed that provides access to best practices and facilitates real-time support and peer collaboration.

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SOLUTION

Civic roundtable platform implementation

• The EAC adopted Civic Roundtable as a federal clearinghouse to transform how resources are distributed and utilized by election officials.
  
• The platform serves as a hub for election officials to access a comprehensive library of critical documents and engage in real-time interaction with peers and experts.

Enhanced visibility & optimization

• Civic Roundtable improves the EAC's visibility into how resources are engaged across different jurisdictions.
  
• The platform enables the agency to tailor and optimize its content to better meet the specific needs of local election officials.

Collaborative spaces

• Dedicated spaces for working groups and advisory boards allow members to collaborate efficiently.
  
• Facilitates idea sharing, feedback on materials, and progress tracking.

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IMPACT

Improved responsiveness

• The platform meets the immediate needs of election officials with tailored, practical resources.
  
• Significantly enhances the EAC’s ability to measure responsiveness and effectiveness.

Efficient election administration

• Supports a more efficient election administration process nationwide by integrating real-time support and collaboration.