Thurston County Project of Impact, Your Neighbors, Your Elections, Wins Award

Olympia, WA – Thurston County Project of Impact, Your Neighbors, Your Elections, Wins Award

Trust in elections comes from people. That’s why Thurston County featured real stories of election workers in its Your Neighbors, Your Elections project.

The campaign earned Washington Association of Counties Project of Impact award for its success in strengthening public confidence in local democracy.

Real people, real elections

Thurston County’s simple but powerful approach included three short videos filmed inside the Ballot Processing Center and Voting Center. Permanent and temporary staff showed pride in keeping elections fair and accurate.

The stories about the real community members who run elections helped to humanize election workers—and helped to shift the online conversation away from partisan fights and towards understanding of the election process and appreciation for election workers.

Filmed with only a smartphone, microphone, and boosted on social media with low-cost ads, the project reached thousands efficiently and effectively.

Building trust through transparency

The impact was clear:

• Public trust grew. Voters expressed greater appreciation for election staff and confidence in the process.
• Community ties strengthened. Election officials built stronger relationships with residents by opening a window into their work.
• Discourse shifted. Online conversations moved from polarization to positive engagement.
• Replicable model. Other counties can adopt this low-cost, high-impact approach to build trust in their own communities.

The project didn’t just tell people that elections are secure—it showed them through the voices and faces of the workers who make democracy happen. By showing the real people who safeguard democracy, Thurston County countered skepticism with transparency and turned division into connection.

This recognition underscores that counties can lead the way in restoring trust in democracy when they highlight the neighbors who make it work.

Be sure to check out the photos from the Awards Lunch here!

About WSAC

The Washington State Association of Counties represents all 39 counties, advocating for local solutions and celebrating innovation that strengthens communities.

Media Contact
Mitch Netzer
Senior Manager, Business Development & Communications
mnetzer@wsac.org | 360.485.8549