PRESS RELEASE: Cleveland VOTES Continues Voter Education and Engagement Efforts Ahead of 2026 Elections

(Cleveland, OH — February 11, 2026) As the 2026 election cycle approaches, Cleveland VOTES, a nonpartisan, democracy-building nonprofit based in Cleveland, is continuing its work to educate, connect, and empower voters across the city. With both a May Primary Election and November General Election, the organization is focused on ensuring Clevelanders have the tools and information they need to engage civically, during elections and year-round.

“Over the past few years, many Cleveland voters have felt disillusioned, and we want people to know their voices still matter,” said Erika Anthony, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Cleveland VOTES. “Every election, local or federal, affects our daily lives. Our role is to empower voters not only at the ballot box, but through ongoing civic engagement that builds long-term power in our communities.”

As part of this effort, Cleveland VOTES is prioritizing access to clear, accurate, and up-to-date voting information. Through their voter activation resources, community members can check their voter registration status, review voter ID requirements, find their polling locations, and access tools designed to make participation easier and more accessible.

“In recent years, changes to voting laws, such as reduced early voting access and limits on ballot drop boxes, have created real challenges for voters,” Anthony added. “We’re intentionally stepping in to ensure voters don’t fall through the cracks.”

Beyond voter resources, Cleveland VOTES will continue offering programs designed to strengthen civic engagement and shift power toward more equitable civic infrastructure. These initiatives include the leadership cohort, The Democracy Collective, More Than My Art, a creative civic engagement program that centers Cleveland artists and culture workers as leaders in social change, and the Equitable Civic Engagement Fund, which provides grants to nonprofit organizations working to educate, connect, and empower voting-age residents across Greater Cleveland.

Cleveland VOTES also partners with local and national organizations to celebrate civic holidays, which play an important role in democracy-building. These holidays create opportunities for the groups closest to their communities’ unique voting challenges to design programming that meets local needs, including National Voter Registration Day in September, Vote Early Day in October, and Election Hero Day in November.

Voters and community members can learn more about Cleveland VOTES’ programs, events, and voting resources by visiting www.clevotes.com.