Arizona Secretary of State's Office Awarded with Excellence in Election Administration Award for Expanding Voting Access to Military and Overseas Voters

PHOENIX – Today, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) announced the winners of its 10th Annual Clearinghouse Awards, commonly referred to as the "Clearies." These awards recognize the best practices in election administration. 

This year, the Arizona Secretary of State's Office was recognized with the Uniformed and Overseas Voters: Exemplary Services to Assist Military and Overseas (UOCAVA) Voters Clearie for its work modernizing the Federal Post Card Application & Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot process as part of its online UOCAVA portal for military and overseas voters upgraded during the 2025 election cycle.

"As a veteran, I understand firsthand the challenges military personnel have casting their ballots. That experience makes me especially grateful to be one of the first ever winners of the UOCAVA Voters Clearie, which was introduced this year to highlight service to assist military and overseas voters. Our new system, which launched last year, is a leap forward in ensuring that every eligible voter can easily register, request and cast a ballot that is both secure and anonymous," said Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. "Historically, UOCAVA voters in Arizona were required to print out forms to sign them before scanning them again in order to return it and worse, had to waive their right to a secret ballot to vote—our partnership with Enhanced Voting changed that. Now, our UOCAVA voters are guaranteed ballot anonymity, placing them on equal footing with state-side voters. I believe that voting is one of the most important civic duties Americans hold and work hard to ensure that every eligible Arizonan has the ability to participate in our country's democracy, and my office's work with UOCAVA voters was just me upholding my promise to make Arizona elections safe, secure, and accessible."

Arizona's new UOCAVA voting system was launched in August of 2025 under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

To launch the program, the Arizona Secretary of State's Office received a grant from the Department of Defense’s Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) in 2023, and Enhanced Voting was the vendor chosen to provide the technology required to administer the new system. The grant was made available by FVAP to encourage states to improve the voting process of UOCAVA voters, many of which are military personnel. According to FVAP, about three-quarters of the 1.3 million active-duty military members are eligible to vote by UOCAVA because they're stationed away from their voting residence. However, as of 2022, only 63% registered and only 26% voted.

Not only does Enhanced Ballot provide military and oversee voters with ballot anonymity; it also makes the voting process much easier for voters, particularly those in locations where they may not have access to a printer or scanner, by allowing them to complete the entire voting process from a personal device, including filing out the form to register to vote and signing their ballot affidavit. However, the system still allows voters to print and mail their ballot, giving voters more flexibility and control over their voting experience while providing security for all choices.

The system has gone under rigorous testing, and has contingency plans are in place—all ballots will be processed using Logic & Accuracy tested tabulators using paper ballots—and was first used during the Congressional District 7 Special Election. Due to the election only having a limited number of voters who were impacted, the system used the election as a pilot program to allow for flexibility and learning during the election. The system will now be used statewide for any future elections.

Secretary Fontes and his administration have now been awarded 5 Clearies—three during their time at the Secretary of State’s office and two while Secretary Fontes was Recorder in Maricopa County—and numerous honorable mentions from the EAC for their cutting-edge work implementing innovative programs to serve voters.

For more information regarding the UOCAVA voting system, visit our UOCAVA Voting Frequently Asked Questions document or Arizona.Vote.

To learn more about the 2025 Clearie winners and the EAC, click here.