Over the 3 decades that the Pollies have been awarded, AAPC has refined the selection process to ensure the fairest possible treatment of every entrant’s work against a rigorous standard of political effectiveness, creativity and production value.  AAPC takes significant steps to ensure fairness in the judging process, including blind judging (firm names cannot be visible) and random assignment of judges (no gaming the pool). Judges may not evaluate any categories to which they (or their organization) have submitted work. Pollie awards may be rescinded to entrants in violation of this policy.

Panels of six to eight judges are comprised of AAPC members and include, political consultants, public affairs practitioners, academics, political analysts, advertising experts, and media personalities who are randomly assigned categories which are judged primarily on the basis of political effectiveness, creativity and production value. 

At the conclusion of the judging period each judge’s score is averaged with those from all other judges evaluating the same Pollie entry. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards may be awarded from highest score to third place at the sole discretion of the judges. All entries receiving awards must reach a set minimum score to be eligible.

Judges are required to be AAPC members.