FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On Monday, September 9, Election Center presented the prestigious Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Awards to the 2024 recipients at its 39th Annual National Conference in Detroit.

Cathy Darling Allen, recently retired Shasta County Clerk and Registrar of Voters, received the Lifetime Achievement Award after receiving overwhelming support and nominations from her peers and praise for her remarkable professionalism, leadership, and service for over 20 years.

In recognition of their monumental contributions to the field and the invaluable support of their peers, Charlotte Sosebee, Athens-Clarke County Director of Elections and Voter Registration, and Veronica Degraffenreid, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Elections & Government at the Brennan Center for Justice, received the 2024 Hall of Fame Awards.

“Congratulations to the 2024 Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award winners,” said Susan Gill, Chair of the Election Center Board of Directors. “These awards represent the highest in professional standards recognized across the country. Thank you for sharing your ideas with the election community.”

Fellow Election Center members nominated all three recipients, and the Election Center Board of Directors ultimately selected them. The Board of Directors bestows the Lifetime Achievement Award to recipients for unparalleled service to the profession and the Election Center. Outstanding individuals in the election administration profession receive the Hall of Fame designation.

“Cathy [Darling Allen] has always been a stalwart champion of democracy and the principles that make this country great; she is a true patriot in every sense of the word,” said Shasta County Assistant Registrar of Voters Joanna Francescut. “She has left a void in the spirit of Shasta County, but her inspiration lives on through her staff and the countless supporters in this community. She refused to buckle and give in to falsehoods, she shrugged off the attacks and was always focused on following the law. Her knowledge, grace, and poise made her one of the greats, but her leadership, code of ethics, and ironclad principles made her a true defender of democracy. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the Lifetime Achievement Award.”

“Ms. [Charlotte] Sosebee is deserving of the Hall of Fame award based not only on her career longevity and dedication but due to her leadership in Athens-Clarke [County] since 2016,” said Athens-Clarke County Assistants Pamela Long and Lisa McGlaun. “She is a shining example to her staff and peers by pursuing continuing education and leading from the front on all matters concerning election administration at the county, state, and federal level.”

“By all accounts, Veronica [Degraffenreid] has exemplified model service to our democracy in the elections arena over her 15-year career in the field and is respected by her colleagues nationwide,” said Durham County Director of Elections Derek Bowens. “She deserves to be honored with the Hall of Fame recognition for her continuous contributions to our industry.”

The Election Center, also known as the National Association for Election Officials, is the largest national professional association for election officials in the United States. It is a non-profit association of voter registrars, election administrators, and service providers throughout the United States and the U.S. territories. Its membership, which includes township, city, county, and state elections officials and other election-related organizations, is dedicated to promoting and supporting continuous improvement in the administration of elections and voter registration through research, professional education, conferences, networking, and consulting.