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Marshalltown woman inducted into Election Center Hall of Fame

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Dawn Williams of Marshalltown, center, is pictured with award certifying selection to The Election Center Hall of Fame given recently in New Orleans. Tim Mattice, executive director of The Election Center, is on the left and Ernest Hawkins, chairman of the board, is on the right.

TIMES-REPUBLICAN

DES MOINES — Marshalltown resident and State Director of Elections Dawn Williams was inducted into The Election Center’s Hall of Fame during ceremonies in New Orleans earlier this week.

Only 12 other election professionals in the country have received this honor. Recipients are selected because they have earned respect and trust among their peers and furthered the elections profession through conduct and actions.

“I am extremely proud of Dawn for receiving this prestigious honor,” Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said. “She is extremely deserving and I am grateful to have her as a mentor and leader of staff. When I returned to this office in January 2015, I wanted to develop the best elections division possible, and hiring Dawn was key. I truly admire her dedication and leadership.”

Williams has been an election professional for more than 30 years. Prior to joining the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office, she worked in the Marshall County Auditor Office from 1988-2014, first serving as Election Director and later County Auditor and Recorder.

“I am honored to be recognized by The Election Center, an organization I have looked to for guidance throughout my career,” Williams said.

The Election Center, also known as the National Association of Election Officials, is a not-for-profit organization to promote, preserve and improve democracy. Williams has been a member of The Election Center for 23 years and was awarded the Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA) designation in 1998.

Williams’ impact on election administration goes far beyond Iowa’s borders. She served as co-chairperson of the voter registration committee for the 2000 National Task Force on Election Reform and was the National Task Force on Election Reform co-chairperson in 2004. Williams has also been a member of The Election Center’s Professional Education Board since 2003 and served on the Professional Practices Committee from 2003 to 2017.

Encouraging collaboration between jurisdictions regardless of size is her passion. She testified before the Presidential Commission on Election Reform in 2013 about how the sharing of best practices improves election administration.

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