Pontiac, Michigan, June 8, 2010 -- Ruth Johnson, who championed efforts to combine school elections with regular elections as a way to save money and improve voter turnout, said a national award recognizing that hard work is really gratifying.

"The real winners are taxpayers and our school kids," said Johnson Tuesday. "Combining elections has saved school districts in Oakland County a total of $600,000 a year and markedly improved voter turnout. To date, 23 out of Oakland County's 27 school districts have combined elections."

Innovative Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds programs honored with the prestigious National Association of Counties (NACo) 2010 Achievement Awards include the:

1. Campaign to Consolidate School Elections - A public awareness campaign to promote the combining of school elections with regular elections to save money and improve voter turnout. To date, 23 of 27 Oakland County school districts have combined elections, markedly improving voter turnout and saving a combined $600,000 annually.

2. Online Campaign Finance System -The free online service promotes transparency and accountability in elections by allowing residents to easily view political contributions made to local candidates and committees at www.oakgov.com/clerkrod. Previously, residents had to come to the county's Election Offices to view campaign contribution records.  The system also indicates the names of candidates who owe late filing fees, prompting more compliance.

3. Poll Worker Training DVD - Created prior to the 2008 election, the Oakland County Clerk's office created an instructional DVD program for election workers to supplement the training already provided by local clerks. A copy of the professionally produced video "starred" county workers as a cost-saving measure and helped provide up-to-date training.

4. Mobile Office - Created  to offer more convenient service to the county's outlying communities, the no-frills service sets up shop in borrowed space, usually local libraries, and provides on-the-spot copies of public documents, assists with voter registration and saves residents the trip to the county courthouse in Pontiac.

5. Identity Protection Service - Streamlines the removal of sensitive financial information from court files. Prior to the launch of the service, implemented as part of a joint project with the Oakland Circuit Court, residents had to hire an attorney, pay to file a court motion and attend a formal court hearing to have Social Security numbers  removed from court records.

6. The Election Network - A password-protected website to assist our local city and township clerks and our own Elections Division in sharing important election-related information.

Bill Bullard, chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, congratulated Johnson and the Oakland County Clerk's Office for the awards and said the national recognition was well-deserved.

"Since she was elected, Ruth has worked very hard to improve elections, put technology to work and save tax dollars," said Bullard. "She fights for what she believes in and is a true leader - helping to bring out the best in people to improve the way government does business."

Johnson credited the hard work of her employees, the assistance of other county departments and local city and township clerks, whom she called the most professional and efficient in the state.

Johnson's office has won 14 national awards in the last three years. Other services that have been honored include:

1. Absentee Ballot Tracker - Helps ensure integrity in election and allows voters to go online to track their absentee ballots to ensure their vote will be counted on Election Day.
2. Voter Education Video - A DVD to assist new voters and even offer a refresher course in voting for more veteran voters.
3. Project VOTE (Voting Opportunities Through Education) - Recycles used voting machines into schools to provide a "hands-on" lesson in Democracy for kids. Machines once used to elect U.S. presidents now used to elect student council presidents.
4. Poll Worker Recruiting Program -  Helped recruit more than 700 new volunteers to work the polls on Election Day
5. Online Marriage License Applications - Allows happy couples to apply online, saving a trip to the county courthouse. The Clerk's Office pushed to change state law to allow online applications. Today, more than half of all marriage license applications are submitted electronically.
6. eFiling - Worked with the Oakland County Circuit Court and IT to create a virtually "paperless" system that allows documents to be filed and served electronically. To date, the program has saved a stack of paper 13 stories tall.
7. Court Explorer - Online service that allows users to view and order court documents online.
8. FRAUDCHECK - A free, online service that helps deter mortgage and deed fraud by allowing Oakland County residents to go online, for free, to see documents recorded against their name.