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06/07/2017 09:00 AMOn Wednesday, June 14, the Clinton Town Clerk’s office will be one of five recipients—and the only town clerk’s office—to receive the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award in a ceremony in Hartford.
Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said in a letter to the Town of Clinton that the award was “created to honor individuals, groups, or organizations with an established record of promoting the goals of the National Association of Secretaries of State. In particular, it emphasizes contributions to one or more of the following areas: elections, specifically voter education and participation; civic education; service to state government; and a commitment to giving.”
The Clinton Town Clerk’s office is getting the award specifically because of its efforts to spread voter education through social media. After attending a conference held by the secretary of the state in September 2016 to announce a push to register voters, Clinton Town Clerk Sharon Uricchio came up with a plan.
Uricchio and Assistant Town Clerk Ashely Unitas designed signs that had an outline of the state of Connecticut with “My State My Voice #MyVoteCt” written inside it. They then went around the town and had people hold the sign while being photographed.
“Any opportunities we had, we took people’s picture,” Uricchio said.
The pictures were posted on the town clerk’s Facebook page to raise awareness of the upcoming presidential election and the importance of registering to vote.
In Merrill’s letter, she said, “In 2016, the Town of Clinton found new ways to register voters and make our democratic process fun.”
Urichio credits Unitas with putting the pictures online and creating the frequent Facebook posts.
“We wouldn’t have done it without Ashley,” Uricchio said.
Among the people who posed with the sign that received significant attention on social media are First Selectman Bruce Farmer, members of the Clinton Police Department, and a resident who struck a pose with his two pet dogs.
Urrichio called being the only clerk’s office to receive the award “pretty cool.” She said when she first found the office would be receiving the award she was “very surprised and honored.”
“It’s amazing how far social media can go and this proves it,” Urrichio said.
The award ceremony will take place in the Judiciary Room at the Connecticut State Capitol on June 14 at 10 a.m. Guests are welcome, but must RSVP by emailing ilona.harvilla@ct.gov or by calling 860-509-6271.