DES MOINES, IOWA (August 3, 2026) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has recently been recognized by two prestigious national organizations focused on election administration, the Office announced. The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and the National Association of Secretaries of State both recognized Sec Pate and his team for their efforts to provide election resources and enhance election security.
This is the state’s fifth time receiving the EAC’s Clearinghouse (Clearie) Awards, and the fourth time the office has been recognized as a finalist for the NASS IDEAs (Innovation, Dedication, Excellence, and Achievement in Service) Award, having won the award in 2024 and 2019.
Sec Pate’s interactive polling place tour video, “What to Expect at the Polls,” was one of two state agencies commended for excellence in “Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives,” receiving a 2025 Clearie Award. Recognizing best practices in election administration across the nation, the Clearies play an essential role in fulfilling the EAC’s mission to serve as a clearinghouse for election administration information under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
"Ensuring election integrity and empowering eligible voters to cast a ballot are top priorities for our office, and that means meeting voters where they are.” Said Sec Pate.
“That's why we created this video — to give Iowans a real look at what their voting experience will be like, so they can feel confident walking into the polls. At the end of the day, we want to be a trusted source Iowans can turn to for election information.”
Sec Pate was also recognized as one of four 2026 NASS IDEAs Award finalists for his efforts to strengthen election security and relationships with local law enforcement with the Office’s Law Enforcement Guidebook for Election Security. The guidebook, which is the first of its kind, was lauded for its potential to improve relationships between local law enforcement and election officials. The Office was also recognized for its efforts to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement from the guidebook's inception, incorporating real-world feedback and resulting in an accessible, easy-to-use product.
“The bipartisan secretaries of state that make up NASS are the hardest working and knowledgeable people working elections today, and to be recognized by them for our work in election integrity is an honor,” said Sec Pate.
“We're excited about the relationships this guidebook has helped us build with local law enforcement — we've seen officers join training exercises with election officials for the first time, and that experience makes our election security teams more prepared for whatever comes our way.”
NASS is the nation's oldest non-partisan forum for public officials, serving as a place for information exchange among secretaries of state and working to improve public policy development. Established in 2011, the IDEAS Award recognizes outstanding state contributions to the mission of the association.
