Alameda County has been named the top winner in its population category in the 2025 Digital Counties Survey, a national recognition of government technology leadership. The annual survey, now in its 23rd year, is conducted by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and Government Technology magazine, in partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo).
The award places Alameda County at the forefront of digital innovation among large counties with populations over 1 million.
“This year’s Digital Counties Survey winners exemplify a strong commitment to innovation, excellence in digital government and public service,” said John Matelski, executive director of the Center for Digital Government.
Alameda County stood out for its use of artificial intelligence to improve public transparency and operational efficiency. The county’s Conversational AI Assistant for the Board of Supervisors improved search result relevance by 35%, while a revamped budgeting system cut preparation time in half and boosted productivity by 25%. The county also enhanced election security using advanced data analytics.
The Digital Counties Survey evaluates how well counties align their technology strategies with broader public service goals. Areas of focus include cybersecurity, AI, digital services and data governance.
This year’s winners were grouped by population size. Following Alameda County in the largest population tier were Fairfax County, Virginia, and Orange County, Florida. Other California counties also appeared in the top 10, including San Diego and San Bernardino.
The recognition comes as counties nationwide increasingly rely on emerging technologies to improve constituent engagement and streamline government operations. In 2025, the top IT priorities for counties included cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, budget control and customer experience.
Winners will be honored during the NACo Annual Conference in Philadelphia on July 11.
The full list of winners and key findings from the 2025 survey can be found at govtech.com.
