Martinez, CA — In a year marked by heightened skepticism of elections, the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department earned two of the nation’s highest public relations honors for a campaign that dispelled myths and bolstered public confidence in election security.
At the 81st Annual Silver Anvil Awards in New York, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) presented the Elections Division with the Silver Anvil Award — the PR industry’s top honor — for Public Service and an Award of Excellence for Integrated Communications. The County’s Elections – More Secure than Ever campaign was selected from entries nationwide for its innovative, community-driven approach to strengthening the public’s understanding of and trust in elections.
“Voter education is one of the most important tools we have to protect democracy,” said Kristin B. Connelly, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters. “Elections are more secure than ever, and this campaign reflects our commitment to guaranteeing election security and empowering the community with the information they need to vote with confidence here in Contra Costa County.”
The year-long campaign, funded by a national grant awarded to just 16 jurisdictions nationwide, was designed to meet the moment: a politically charged environment steeped in polarization, misinformation and anxiety. The initiative focused on showing voters how elections work — from ballot security to vote counting — through direct outreach, advertising and digital content.
Central to the countywide campaign was training nearly 100 Election Ambassadors to share accurate, accessible information through social media and in-person speaking engagements. A companion website, secure-election.org, supported their efforts with videos, fact sheets and Q&As that demystified every step of the process.
Despite a contentious national backdrop, Contra Costa County increased trust in its election system by 12% and 45% of voters previously wary of elections reported gaining a fact-based understanding of how elections work.
To achieve these results, the Elections Division partnered with Brown·Miller Communications, a Martinez-based public relations agency specializing in state and local cause-oriented campaigns.
“Contra Costa County had a bold and timely vision — to meet myths and rumors head-on with transparency and trust,” said Michael Miller, president of Brown·Miller Communications. “We were honored to support this important work and to help deliver a campaign that truly made a difference in our community.”
For more information about the campaign and the County’s ongoing commitment to election security and public education, visit be ContraCostaVote.gov.
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