About Promote The Vote

January 2018 - Coalition of civil rights organizations proposes a voting-rights ballot initiative called "Promote the Vote."
November 2018 - The "Promote the Vote" ballot initiative (Prop 18-3) passes with 67% of the vote, winning 80 of 83 Michigan counties.
October 2020 - PTV is established as an independent organization to facilitate ongoing, collaborative work on democracy issues in Michigan.
March 2021 - With two staff members and one senior advisor, PTV launches a campaign to engage in Michigan's independent citizen's redistricting process.
April 2021 - PTV convenes advisory committee of partner organizations and state and national experts to review data and inform mapping principles and processes.
May 2021 - PTV submits first round of three expertly-drawn maps, paired with 163 district narratives.
October 2021 - PTV submits second round of three expertly-drawn maps, paired with 163 district narratives.
January 2022 - PTV launches the "PTV 2022" campaign to pass a second constitutional amendment to make voting more accessible and secure.
November 2022 - The "Promote the Vote 2022" ballot initiative (Prop 22-2) passes with 60% of the vote.
December 2022 - PTV convenes expert committee to draft Prop 22-2 implementation bills and other pro-voter legislative priorities.
February 2023 - PTV launches coalition-wide Policy Workgroup to facilitate coordination and collaboration in the pro-voter legislative space.
May 2023 - PTV co-convenes more than 35 voting rights organizations to begin drafting Michigan's 2024 nonpartisan Election Protection Plan.
August 2023 - Michigan's 2024 nonpartisan Election Protection Plan is finalized.
November 2023 - Michigan Legislature adjourns for the year, having passed 16 of Promote the Vote's pro-voter priority bills.
January 2024 - PTV grows to 12 staff members and 13 committed board partners.

What We Accomplished

Who We Are

Promote the Vote is a coalition of partner organizations committed to ensuring that Michigan’s voting system works for all.

What We Believe

We know that our democracy works best when all our voices are heard and that Michiganders support common-sense approaches to removing barriers to voting and safeguarding Michigan's elections.

What We Do

Promote The Vote cuts through the partisan noise to advance voting rights for the people of Michigan.

Board Members

Khalilah Spencer, President

Legal Redress Chair, NAACP Michigan State Conference & Detroit Branch NAACP

Merissa Kovach, Vice President

Political Director, ACLU of Michigan

Gilda Jacobs, Secretary

Member at Large

Judy Karandjeff, Treasurer

Member at Large

Paula Bowman

Co-President, League of Women Voters of Michigan

Dessa Cosma

Executive Director, Detroit Disability Power

Cindy Gamboa

Executive Director, MI PODER

Kathi Harris

Executive Director, PROACTIVE

David Hecker

Special Assistant to the President, AFT Michigan

Scott Holliday

Executive Director, Detroit Action

Rebeka Islam

Executive Director, APIA VOTE-MI

Meredith Kennedy

Director & Founder, Miigwech, Inc.

Rima Meroueh

Advocacy & Community Engagement Manager, ACCESS

Patrick Schuh

National Deputy Director of States, America Votes

Monique Stanton

President & CEO, Michigan League For Public Policy

Yvonne White

President, NAACP Michigan State Conference

Our Team

Image of Micheal Davis, Jr. wearing a black turtleneck with a dark gray jacket

Executive Director

Image of Nicole Aghedo wearing a light gray shirt

Operations Manager

Image of Scott Allison wearing a black jacket

Programming & Partnerships Director

Image of Sharon Dolente wearing a blue shirt

Senior Advisor

Image of Gregory Flynn-Sollish wearing a blue shirt with a white jacket

Research & Election Protection Strategist

Image of Melanie Macey wearing a blue shirt

Policy & Government Affairs Director

Image of Erica Peresman wearing a brown shirt

Senior Advisor

Image of Angela Porter wearing a dark purple shirt

Communications & Creative Manager

Image of Bailey Rechler wearing a white shirt with a black jacket

Voting Rights Counsel

Image of Shira Roza wearing a white shirt with a navy blue jacket

Election Protection Director

Image of Sonali Seth wearing an orange sweater with white stripes

Legal Fellow

Image of Mackenzie Walz wearing a white shirt with a black jacket

Deputy Election Protection Director