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Nonpartisan Voting Rights Organizations Unite to Provide Hotlines, Resources, and Rides To the Polls

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Two Maryland voting rights coalitions – Everyone Votes Maryland and Expand the Ballot, Expand the Vote – have been extremely busy preparing for Election Day and ensuring that every Marylander knows their voting rights!

Below are some resources put together by coalition members to make sure that everyone has access to their fundamental right to vote. Coalition members coordinate and collaborate between hotlines to cover the entirety of Maryland and provide options for people who may be more comfortable calling one hotline over another.

Common Cause MD, state lead for 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
866-OUR-VOTE is running a national election protection hotline for individual voters to ask questions and get more information about their voting options. The hotline is open from 9:00am (EDT) to 11:59 pm Monday through Friday and 10:00 am to 9:00pm on weekends. Their website also provides Maryland-specific information: https://866ourvote.org/state/maryland/

There will also be nearly 200 trained nonpartisan 866-OUR-VOTE volunteers monitoring polling locations in the largest precincts on Election Day. These volunteers assist with answering MD voter questions outside of the polls and report issues to the hotline and Common Cause MD.

ACLU-MD’s Election Protection Hotline: (667) 219-2625
ACLU-MD is running an election protection hotline to help Maryland voters with questions and concerns about voting in Maryland. Hotline staff can provide information about voter eligibility, voter registration, voting by mail, early voting, Election Day, drop boxes, and more. During early voting, 10/24 to 10/31, the hotline is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm. On Election Day, 11/5, the hotline is open from 7:00am to 8:00pm. More info at https://www.aclu-md.org/en/know-your-rights/voter-empowerment.

League of Women Voters of Montgomery County’s Hotline: (301) 984-9585
LWV Montgomery County is running a hotline on weekdays until Election Day, 11/5. Assistance is available in English from 10:00am to 4:00pm and in Spanish from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

Disability Rights Maryland’s Hotline: (443) 692-2512 or Voting@DisabilityRightsMD.org
DRM is running an election protection hotline to provide voter assistance at the polls and help solve issues impacting people with disabilities. Staff are available to answer questions about accessible voting machines, access to ballots, and any accessibility challenges at polling sites. More info at: https://disabilityrightsmd.org/voting-2/

Expand the Ballot, Expand the Vote Outreach and GOTV
Expand the Ballot is campaigning to empower all Marylanders, with particular focus on those directly impacted by the criminal justice system. To do so, the coalition has engaged in street canvassing, held voter registration drives, and provided transportation to polling stations. This campaign is designed to ensure that individuals know they are eligible to vote even if they are in pre-trial detention, in a facility for a misdemeanor, or on parole or probation after their release. See more about the mission and purpose of the coalition below.

Life After Release and Black Voters Matter Street Canvassing
Life After Release is hitting the streets in Prince George’s County and Baltimore City in Black Voters Matters vans, visiting courthouses and community events to encourage community members to register to vote. The vans provide education, voter registration, and transportations to the polls. Street canvassing fosters genuine and impactful conversations, which are crucial for building trust among those who may feel excluded from the political process.

Need a ride to the polls?
Maryland Justice Project is providing rides to the polls in the Baltimore area. To request a ride, call 443-462-9271.

Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
Maryland LCV Education Fund is targeting GOTV efforts in Maryland to communities with high Latino populations that are traditionally underserved and overburdened. Our Chispa Maryland team has conducted outreach in communities that are defined by the Maryland General Assembly as “environmental justice” communities. The Fund has also created an online Voter Tool that creates a one-stop shop for eligible individuals to register to vote, find polling locations, request a mail-in ballot, and more. Learn more at: https://www.marylandconservation.org/elections or in Spanish at: https://www.marylandconservation.org/elections-2

National Multi-Language Hotlines

Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)

Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)

Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)

 

About Expand the Ballot, Expand the Vote:
The Expand the Ballot Coalition consists of numerous organizations that have come together to stop voter suppression, ensuring that people who are currently and formerly incarcerated are aware of their right to vote and have access to voting regardless of their circumstances. Organizations in the coalition include Out for Justice, Life After Release, Maryland Justice Project, League of Women Voters, NAACP, Common Cause, Disability Rights Maryland, H.O.P.E., Campaign Legal Center, and ACLU of Maryland.

 

About Everyone Votes Maryland:
Everyone Votes is a coalition of good government, civil rights, environmental, labor, and grassroots organizations working toward increasing access to the ballot in Maryland

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Voting Events: Your Guide to Staying Informed and Engaged

With the election just around the corner, it’s essential to stay updated on key voting dates, registration deadlines, and local events. Whether you’re a first-time voter or a seasoned participant in the democratic process, our goal is to keep you informed and engaged.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

PG County Workforce Fair (in person)

Thursday
October 17, 2024
10:30-1pm

New Carrollton Branch Library
7414 Riverdale Rd
New Carrollton, MD

The Maryland Senate Candidate Forum (Virtual)

Tuesday
October 22, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM. 

Registration is required to receive an event link. https://zfrmz.com/KElYVOpakXTC9u7hXnad

Importance of Voting/Brief KYR Panel Discussion with Maryland Department of Disability (Virtual)

Thursday
October 24, 2024
4pm-5pm

Request a link from Yesheva Kelly via email (yesheva.kelly@maryland.gov) or phone at 410-767-3659

Check back here and on our Instagram and Facebook pages for additional events and information on voting.

 

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U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth to Receive Judith Heumann Champion of Justice Award

Photo of US Senator Duckworth

BALTIMORE, September 5, 2024 – Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is honored to announce that U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth will receive the Judith Heumann Champion of Justice Award at DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala on September 26, 2024.

The Judith Heumann Champion of Justice Award recognizes individuals who are dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable society for people with disabilities, in honor of Judy Heumann, one of the most influential disability rights activists in history. Previous recipients include Wade Henderson, Congressman Jamie Raskin, and Rebecca Cokley.

Senator Duckworth has been a steadfast advocate for disability rights.

During the 115th Congress, she played a critical role in preserving the Americans with Disabilities Act, protecting the hard-won rights that leaders like Judy Heumann helped secure. Her legislative accomplishments also include expanding Medicare coverage for durable medical equipment, making public transit stations accessible, advocating for students with disabilities, ensuring fair rates for communication between incarcerated individuals and their families, addressing maternal mortality among veterans, and securing resources for State Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services.

Her work aligns with DRM’s mission to advance the legal rights of people with disabilities. Recently, DRM represented a woman whose wheelchair was lost for days by an airline, highlighting systemic issues that Senator Duckworth has addressed through her efforts to increase transparency and accountability in the airline industry.

“Senator Duckworth’s advocacy for disability rights and her commitment to social justice have made a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals across the country. She carries forward the values and spirit that Judy Heumann infused into the disability rights and disability justice movement,” said Meghan Marsh, Executive Director of DRM.

Senator Duckworth is not able to attend the gala in-person and will accept the award via recorded remarks.

To learn more about DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala and to purchase tickets, visit DisabilityRightsMD.org/Breaking-Barriers-Gala.

About Senator Tammy Duckworth

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who was among the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after representing Illinois’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms.

Learn more about Senator Duckworth by visiting: Duckworth.Senate.gov/About-Tammy/Biography

About Disability Rights Maryland (DRM)

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advances the rights of people with disabilities in Maryland. DRM provides free legal services to address issues like abuse, neglect, or discrimination that might occur in education, housing, transportation, healthcare, voting, and more. Ensuring that people with disabilities don’t have to live in institutions unnecessarily is a primary goal. DRM envisions a world where everyone has access to the services they need to fully participate in the workplace, neighborhoods, and all aspects of community life.

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Mayer Brown to Receive Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award

Mayer Brown Logo

BALTIMORE, September 5, 2024 – Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) will present Mayer Brown LLP, a leading international law firm, with the Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award at our Breaking Barriers Awards Gala. This prestigious award recognizes legal professionals who have shown a steadfast commitment to ensuring justice for people with disabilities.

As joint pro bono co-counsel with The Washington Lawyer’s Committee on the case of Rodney Coster v. Harford County Sheriff’s Office et al., Mayer Brown LLP demonstrated exceptional dedication, creativity, and perseverance.

Mr. Coster sued numerous defendants in Harford County for unlawfully and violently restraining and arresting him after he arrived at the Harford County Detention Center after his mother requested help from an officer to get Mr. Coster to a hospital in 2018.

In October 2023, the parties reached an agreement that included damages for Mr. Coster and systemic policy changes aimed at diverting individuals with behavioral health disabilities from unnecessary interactions with law enforcement and improving the Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s Crisis Intervention Team procedures.

DRM’s Litigation Director, Luciene Parsley, said “Mayer Brown was a tenacious and steadfast advocate for Mr. Coster, resulting in remedies that recognized the harm he suffered at the hands of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. Together with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, the Mayer Brown team offered unparalleled litigation expertise, collegiality, and exceptional dedication to improving law enforcement’s response to others experiencing a mental health crisis in the future.”

Mayer Brown LLP’s efforts in securing an agreement that includes both damages and systemic changes brings us one step closer to an environment where people experiencing a behavioral health crisis are treated with care and respect.

To learn more about DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala, visit DisabilityRightsMD.org/Breaking-Barriers-Gala.

About Mayer Brown

As the first major law firm to develop and implement a pro bono strategic plan, Mayer Brown has long deployed its considerable resources to offer access to the justice system and confront systemic problems around the world where it can have a major impact. Visit: https://www.mayerbrown.com.

About Disability Rights Maryland (DRM)

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advances the rights of people with disabilities in Maryland. DRM provides free legal support to address issues like abuse, neglect, or discrimination that might occur in education, housing, transportation, healthcare, voting, and more. Ensuring that people with disabilities don’t have to live in institutions unnecessarily is a primary goal. DRM envisions a world where everyone has access to the services they need to fully participate in the workplace, neighborhoods, and all aspects of community life.

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Liz Bowie, Reporter for The Baltimore Banner, to Receive Excellence in Journalism Award

Photo of Liz Bowie, a white woman with shoulder-length brown hair. She's smiling and wearing a black shirt and pearl earrings.

BALTIMORE, August 21, 2024 – Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is proud to announce that Liz Bowie, a distinguished journalist with over 30 years of experience, will receive the Excellence in Journalism Award at our Breaking Barriers Awards Gala on September 26, 2024, at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

This award recognizes journalists whose reporting brings awareness to systemic challenges, influences public understanding, and sparks meaningful change.

Throughout her career, first with the Baltimore Sun and now with the Baltimore Banner, Liz has demonstrated a deep commitment to uncovering and reporting on critical issues impacting Maryland children and families.

In 2019, Liz wrote a powerful story about a mother who traveled by foot from Honduras to the U.S. in search of care for her daughter, who has severe disabilities. Without a wheelchair, she carried her daughter throughout their journey. Liz’s interview revealed that they were in desperate need of support services. Recognizing the situation, DRM reached out to Liz. We helped the daughter access services and get into a school program.

In 2022, Liz co-authored a series of articles with Hallie Miller that exposed the troubling reality of many children with complex needs being housed in hospital emergency departments for weeks, even months. Liz and Hallie’s investigative work was thorough, well-researched, and led to important conversations and change. A DRM client was featured in the series, and shortly after its publication, his care team secured a permanent placement for him.

“Liz’s journalism has had a profound impact on the lives of people with disabilities,” said Leslie Seid Margolis, Managing Attorney and Policy Counsel at DRM. “Her ability to connect with people and bring their experiences to life through her writing has helped to bring about awareness, understanding, and change.”

Leslie Seid Margolis will present the Excellence in Journalism Award to Liz Bowie at the gala.

To learn more about DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala and purchase tickets, visit DisabilityRightsMD.org/Breaking-Barriers-Gala.

Links to the referenced stories 
(note: click the title, access requires a subscription)

About Liz Bowie 
Liz Bowie is a Maryland education reporter for the Baltimore Banner. She covers how statewide education decisions are made: Who wields the power, who wins, who loses and what that means for Maryland’s kids. She spent more than two decades covering city, county, and state education issues at The Baltimore Sun. She was part of a team at The Sun that won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for its investigation of Baltimore’s mayor.

She also helped lead an attempt to find local owners for The Baltimore Sun in 2020 which failed but ultimately led to the creation of The Baltimore Banner. In 2012, she was a Spencer Fellow in Education Reporting at Columbia University. She grew up in Baltimore.

See Liz Bowie’s reporting on the Baltimore Banner website.

About Disability Rights Maryland (DRM)
Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advances the rights of people with disabilities in Maryland. DRM provides free legal services to address issues like abuse, neglect, or discrimination that might occur in education, housing, transportation, healthcare, voting, and more. Ensuring that people with disabilities don’t have to live in institutions unnecessarily is a primary goal. DRM envisions a world where everyone has access to the services they need to fully participate in the workplace, neighborhoods, and all aspects of community life.

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