Iowa Receives 2024 NASS IDEAS Award

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2024

San Juan, PR - The members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) have selected the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office as the 2024 IDEAS (Innovation, Dedication, Excellence and Achievement in Service) Award recipient. 

Their Recruiting a New Generation of Poll Workers program was created in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic creating a shortage of poll workers. Through this initiative, Iowa launched PollWorker.Iowa.gov, which resulted in the recruitment of more than 21,000 new poll workers across the state’s 99 counties. 

“I am thrilled that my colleagues at NASS recognize the important role poll workers play in election integrity. Poll workers are our secret weapon to keeping elections safe and secure. This recruitment initiative has helped us build the bench of trusted local election workers and reinforce with Iowans that we have their backs in protecting their vote. I hope to see my colleagues join us in implementing efforts to recruit the next generation of poll workers in their own states and importantly, we look forward to bringing back some new ideas to our state that allow us to continue to serve Iowans,” said Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. 

The award was presented to Pate by NASS President and Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab on Thursday, July 11, during the NASS 2024 Summer Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Secretary of State offices in New Hampshire and Rhode Island were also recognized for their finalist submissions.

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Media Contacts:
Maria Benson, Director of Communications
mbenson@nass.org | 202-624-3528 | www.nass.org 

Brittany Hamilton, Communications & Special Projects Manager
bhamilton@nass.org | 202-624-3527