Who is eligible to enter and win a Pollie Award?
All individuals and/or teams at for-profit and non-profit organizations including: sole practitioners, companies, agencies, PR and public affairs companies, associations, government and NGOs, and corporations. Vendors are also eligible to compete on behalf of their client(s). To be eligible for the 2026 competition, work entered must have been produced, aired, or screened between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, with the exception of N03 [NEW] Best Unused Idea**. Entrants must be directly responsible for the design, creation and production of their submissions. With the exception of Student Awards, all submissions must be created by professionals on behalf of their clients. Non-professional submissions will not be accepted.
**N03 [NEW] Best Unused Idea is for a classic political advertising piece from any year, provided it has not made it to air and has not previously won a Pollie.
What type of work can I enter?
The Contest is open for submissions in all media—direct mail, television, digital/internet, phones, radio, newspaper, collateral—and all disciplines, including opposition research, field, and fundraising.
The 2026 Pollie Awards Contest is divided into three divisions:
- Candidate Division – Work created for a Candidate Campaign
- Non-Candidate Division – Work created for a Ballot Initiative, Public Affairs or Issue Advocacy Campaign
- Open Division – Work created for a Candidate Campaign, a Ballot Initiative or a Referendum Campaign, or a Public Affairs or Issue Advocacy Campaign
When does the 2026 Pollie Awards Contest open and close?
The contest opens on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 and closes on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 11:59PM Eastern
Why can’t I include my company name in my entry?
In order to maintain the integrity and fairness of the Pollie Awards, and to prevent possible bias in judging, you cannot include your name or your company name in your submitted work.
What if my company is also the client for my entry?
If your company is also the client in the entry you are submitting, you may include the client’s name as long as you do not indicate that it is the company you work for. AAPC reserves the right to disqualify entries if they violate this rule.
What are the different types of categories?
There are two different types of categories in the 2026 Pollie Contest, media and non-media categories. For non-media categories, entrants should upload a supporting document for judges to review.
Only Overall Campaign Series Categories (A01-A20) are meant for two or more pieces of media. All other categories only accept one piece of media for review.
Can I submit the same entry in multiple categories?
Yes, you may submit the same entry in more than one category. Each entry is charged a separate fee.
How are the entries judged?
The Pollie Contest is judged online by panels of experienced professionals, including political consultants, public affairs practitioners, academics, political analysts, advertising experts, and media leaders. Judges are carefully assigned to ensure balanced expertise across categories and are recused from evaluating any entries connected to their own firm or clients.
Each submission is reviewed blind, with identifying information removed to preserve impartiality. Awards are determined by overall performance within each category, and recognition is reserved for work that demonstrates excellence as determined by the judging panel.
Can I sign up to be a judge?
Yes! Judges must be AAPC members and they may not evaluate any categories to which they (or their organization) have submitted work.
What are the benefits of judging?
Judging the Pollie Awards provides you with the opportunity to give back to the Association as well as view an array of work that will surely inspire your own. To show our appreciation for taking your time to be a part of the 2026 Pollie Awards & Conference, your name and company will be featured in the 2026 Winners Book.
How do I know if I won a Pollie Award?
AAPC will contact you if you are selected as a 2026 Pollie Award winner, but will keep your winning entry and award level confidential until the 2026 Pollie Awards Ceremony.
When are the 2026 Pollie Award winners announced?
The 2026 Pollie Award winners will be announced on March 26, 2026 at the Pollie Awards ceremony.
What do I receive if I am a winner?
Winners receive a Pollie trophy, a “press kit” including an official winner’s seal and press release template and recognition in AAPC’s printed Winners Book and more.
What information will be on the trophy?
Please refer to the above illustration.