PHOENIX — The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has recognized the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office with a national award for expanding voting access for military personnel and overseas voters through a modernized online voting system launched during the 2025 election cycle.
The office received the Uniformed and Overseas Voters: Exemplary Services to Assist Military and Overseas (UOCAVA) Voters Clearie during the EAC’s 10th Annual Clearinghouse Awards, commonly known as the “Clearies.” The awards highlight best practices in election administration across the country.
Arizona earned recognition for upgrading its online UOCAVA portal, which modernized the Federal Post Card Application and Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot process for military and overseas voters.
Adrian Fontes said the improvements were designed to remove barriers long faced by military members and overseas citizens attempting to vote absentee.
“As a veteran, I understand firsthand the challenges military personnel have casting their ballots,” Fontes said in a statement. “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.”
Historically, Arizona’s UOCAVA voters were required to print, sign, scan and return election forms, and in some cases waive their right to a secret ballot in order to vote electronically. Fontes said the updated system eliminates those requirements while guaranteeing ballot anonymity comparable to voters casting ballots within the state.
Arizona launched the new UOCAVA voting system in August 2025 under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. The initiative was funded through a 2023 grant from the Department of Defense’s Federal Voting Assistance Program, known as FVAP.
The upgraded Arizona system allows military and overseas voters to complete the entire voting process from a personal device, including voter registration, ballot requests and signing ballot affidavits electronically. Voters may also print and mail ballots if preferred.
State officials said the system underwent extensive testing before implementation. All ballots are processed using Logic and Accuracy-tested tabulators and paper ballots remain part of the process to maintain election security and verification standards.
The system was first deployed during the Congressional District 7 Special Election as a pilot program due to the smaller number of impacted voters. Election officials said the limited rollout allowed administrators to evaluate the technology and make adjustments before statewide implementation in future elections.
The latest recognition marks the fifth Clearie award connected to Fontes’ election administration work. Three awards have been received during his tenure as secretary of state, while two others were awarded during his time serving as Maricopa County recorder.
More information about Arizona’s UOCAVA voting system is available through the state’s voter information resources and frequently asked questions portal. ♦︎
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