About the NASS Freedom Award

Established in 1998, the NASS Freedom Award honors individuals and organizations for their significant creative, procedural, and/or technological contributions to the free election process in the United States.

Past Recipients:

2010 - Hon. Donetta Davidson, U.S. Election Assistance Commission Chair & former Colorado Secretary of State
2006 - Former U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson, National Voting Rights Act
2005 - The League of Women Voters of the U.S.
2004 - Hon. Paul DeGregorio, U.S. Election Assistance Commission
2003 - Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) & Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Help America Vote Act
2002 - Mr. George Russell, former Kentucky State Elections Director
2001 - Dr. Richard Smolka, publisher of Election Administration Reports
2000 - Mr. Robert Naegele

Nomination & Selection Guidelines

Freedom Award nominees (groups or individuals) should meet one or more of the following criteria in order to be considered:

• Demonstrated acts of promoting voter registration & participation
• Improvement of the public's ability to understand and participate in the democratic process
• Developed a creative or more effective method of administering elections
• Developed an effective program aimed at specific voter groups.

Nominations are submitted to the NASS Committee on Awards through one of the following organizations:

• Individual Secretaries of State
• The Election Center/National Association of State Election Officials
• Internat'l Assoc. of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials, and Treasurers (IACREOT)
• National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials, and Clerks (NACRC)
• International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC)
• National Association of State Election Directors (NASED)

Each of these organizations may nominate up to three (3) persons, groups, or organizations meeting the selection criteria mentioned above. The nominating body should submit detailed reasons for the nomination, along with other supporting information.

The Freedom Award recipient is announced at the NASS winter conference. The award ceremony takes place at the NASS summer conference.

For more information on the NASS Freedom Award, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  More on this program HERE.