The Thurston County Auditor’s Office’s “Your Neighborhood, Your Election” video series has received a 2025 Project of Impact Award from the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC).
Released in 2024, the three-video series highlighted Thurston County’s elections staff with the goal of building trust and countering misinformation, according to the auditor’s office.
“The best way to build trust in elections is to show the process and the people who’re behind that process. ‘Your Neighbors, Your Elections’ does just that,” said Thurston County Elections Manager Tillie Naputi-Pullar during a Thurston County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, where the board presented the award to auditor’s office staff.
The “Your Neighborhood, Your Election” video series was among the six projects statewide recognized by WSAC in the award’s inaugural year.
The award celebrates projects that highlight county leadership and staff who help communities with better services, trust and infrastructure, according to WSAC.
“From housing to public safety to infrastructure, counties are paving the way with practical solutions that change lives,” said Derek Young, WSAC executive director.
WSAC announced the award winners on Friday, Dec. 12.
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners presented the award to Thurston County Auditor’s Office staff during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Of the “Your Neighborhood, Your Election” series, WSAC said, “the campaign reached thousands and strengthened public confidence in elections.”
The “Your Neighborhood, Your Election” series previously won a national Clearinghouse Award from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and received an honorable mention in the Accessibility category for “Expanding Access: Public Transit Partnerships for Accessible Elections.”
What makes this project especially powerful, Naputi-Pullar said, is that everyone involved volunteered their service and time for the project.
“We stepped forward at a time where elections officials across the country were facing real threats. That’s not easy for us to do,” Naputi-Pullar said. Asking staff to appear on camera so soon after the auditor’s office received fentanyl-laced mail in November 2023 was difficult, Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall said.
“We had people volunteering anyway, which I think speaks volumes to their commitment to this work,” Hall said.
Thurston County Commissioner Emily Clouse commended the auditors office for what they have achieved with the project.
“Your work makes civic participation more accessible and it strengthens confidence in our local democracy,” Clouse said.
