Our History
Baltimore Votes started with a one-day event.
In September 2017, a few local organizations decided to come together in order to coordinate city wide efforts for National Voter Registration Day. Each partner organization held festivities to promote voter registration in their own communities, and together registered hundred of new voters. In talking about the event afterwards, we realized that our joint success was due to two key things.
First, we took a seemingly boring task — registering to vote — and turned it into a cause for celebration, which ultimately resulted in widespread enthusiasm. And second, because our individual groups coordinated resources, shared ideas, and supported one another, we were all successful.
That one-day event showed us that we had hit upon a formula for long term success, and so we made the decision to strengthen the ties that had formed during this first event, and grow into a values-based coalition working to engage every Baltimore institution in the process of improving voter participation.
2018
In 2018, the Baltimore Votes coalition was formalized. In our first year, we developed a unified mission and piloted a range of programs and activities that equitably supported local leaders across the region. In turn, these leaders worked tirelessly to ensure that all eligible voters could participate authentically and confidently in every election.
Most of our work was aimed at getting the city ready for the 2018 General Election. Our activities included:
Summits and trainings to build community among diverse leaders with shared values to share skills and knowledge about how to do best practice voter engagement work.
Momentum building events over the summer to try out Get Out The Vote tactics and build excitement for the final push to November.
Our first tactical campaign to bring out voters across the region by hosting Parties at the Polls at almost 20% of all polling places in Baltimore City.
To learn more, check out the 2018 Baltimore Votes annual report!
2019
In 2019, we partnered up with Black Girls Vote, the League of Women Voters Baltimore City, and Baltimore City Public Schools to hold the first ever High School Engagement Awards.
2020
2020 did not go to plan.
We started the year planning on running a new round of Party at the Polls. But in March, everything changed. We acted fast and rolled out vote by mail specific education resources and new programs including Adopt a Vote Center and Party at the Mailbox (in partnership with Black Girls Vote).