MEDIA RESOURCE GUIDE: Everyone Votes Maryland Spokespeople

As voters begin to cast their ballots, coalition available for media appearances

The state-wide coalition Everyone Votes Maryland has been working tirelessly throughout the 2022 primary, and now general, elections to ensure that every Marylander knows their rights when it comes to voting and ensuring a fair and safe election process. 

Everyone Votes Maryland is a nonpartisan coalition of national, state and grassroots organizations dedicated to ensuring that all Maryland voters can have their voices heard on Election Day.

As voters begin to cast their ballots by mail, during early voting, or on Election Day, Everyone Votes Maryland members are available to respond to questions about the election and civic engagement. Below is a list of spokespeople, their organizations and their areas of expertise. For contact information, please reach out to Emily Scarr or Joanne Antoine.

American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland (Election protection)

The ACLU of Maryland’s Election Protection campaign is a statewide program that focuses on:

• Advocating for elections and voting experiences that are equitable and accessible, and an election infrastructure that supports maximum participation in majority Black jurisdictions.
• Ensuring that people who are in jail or prison, or on probation or parole, have full, equitable access to voting.
• Helping individual voters with questions, concerns, and complaints.
• Monitoring elections in real time to address issues, identify and resolve problems, and challenge major violations, voter intimidation and voter suppression.

Baltimore Votes (Baltimore City-specific questions, “party at the polls”)

Baltimore Votes is a coalition of grassroots and community-based organizations from all across Baltimore working together to include every Baltimorean in every election. Baltimore Votes advocates for higher quality election administration in Baltimore City, provides clear voter education materials to Baltimore Votes, and supports celebratory “parties at the polls” at early voting locations and neighborhood precincts all across Baltimore City.

Black Girls Vote (Party at the polls, black women and girls)

The mission of Black Girls Vote is to improve the quality of life for Black women by engaging, educating and empowering Black women to activate their voice by utilizing their vote. BGV aims to improve the lives of Black women one vote at a time.

Common Cause Maryland (election protection, election administration)

Common Cause Maryland (CCMD) leads statewide 866-OUR-VOTE Election Protection efforts, training and deploying nonpartisan volunteers to monitor polling locations, disinformation, and the canvassing of mail-in ballots. Staff and partners also provide hotline support. CCMD is a nonpartisan grassroots organization that is working to protect, expand and guarantee the right to vote to make sure that every Marylander can have their voice heard on election day. 

Disability Rights Maryland (Ensuring accessible access to voting for people with disabilities)

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy (P & A) organization. DRM is part of a nationwide network of organizations established by Congress more than40 years ago to protect and advance the human and legal rights of people with disabilities. Samuela Ansah is an advocate at DRM engaged in voting rights education and advocacy for individuals with disabilities throughout the state. Her work includes visiting the state’s psychiatric hospitals to conduct voter engagement and outreach to patients who would otherwise not have access to the ballot. 

League of Women Voters of Maryland (Voter education, elections administration)

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League of Women Voters is dedicated to providing well-researched and unbiased information so that all voters may become better informed. 

Maryland PIRG Foundation (Voter registration, voting process, youth voting)

Maryland PIRG Foundation has a decades long history of working to ensure voters know when, where and how to vote. Emily Scarr has worked in Maryland for the last 10 years to ensure all voters are able to participate on Election Day and that new voters have the tools they need to navigate the electoral process.

Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (Get out the vote  for conservation minded voters)

Maryland League of Conservation Voters is dedicated to maximizing the participation of conservation-minded voters in public policy decisions made at the state and local levels regarding Maryland’s air, land, water, and communities. Our programs strengthen and build the power of the environmental community, and they expand, deepen and activate a base of conservation voters around the state.

Maryland Souls to the Polls (Congregations celebrating voting and welcoming voters)
Empowerment for Collective Change Inc., Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA), NAACP Baltimore Branch, and Baltimore Votes

Through Maryland Souls to the Polls, congregations across Maryland, including Black churches, masajid, and synagogues in Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Montgomery Counties and Greater  Baltimore, are hosting “parties at the polls” to welcome voters to the polls with music, food, and a spirit of celebration. Posters produced by the historic Globe Press at MICA for this program declare “My vote is powerful” and “My vote grows the future.”

Out for Justice, Inc. (voting access for currently and formerly incarcerated voters)

Out for Justice, Inc. (OFJ) leads the Expand the Ballot, Expand the Vote coalition that has been working to ensure ballot access to returning citizens and currently incarcerated voters. The coalition has been touring prisons and jails throughout the state, monitoring implementation of the Value My Vote Act passed in 2021. OFJ is an organization comprised of individuals who are both directly and indirectly impacted by the criminal legal system advocating for the reform of policies and practices that adversely affect successful reintegration into society.

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Everyone Votes Maryland is a nonpartisan coalition of national, state, and grassroots organizations dedicated to ensuring that all eligible Marylanders can have their voices heard on Election Day.