Project Vote welcomes new legislative director, Marissa Liebling and election counsel, Stephen Mortellaro.
Marissa Liebling, legislative director, leads the organization’s policy work on both the federal and state levels. In this role, she focuses on increasing and improving access to voter registration through advocacy, public education, and providing support to local stakeholders, organizers, and allies. Previously, Marissa worked in Illinois, where she led a diverse coalition of organizations that successfully fought for affirmative voting rights reforms. She also worked on statewide voter protection programs and civil rights litigation. Marissa earned her J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law and her B.A. from The George Washington University. She is licensed to practice to law in Illinois.
“For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to social justice work,” said Marissa. “I am passionate about voting rights because traditionally underrepresented communities must be empowered in order to secure truly fair and responsive policies. I am honored to join this incredible organization and thankful for the opportunity to promote positive reforms throughout the country while also fighting restrictions that deprive people of their voice in our political system.”
Stephen Mortellaro, election counsel, works primarily on policy and legal projects in Project Vote’s Election Administration Program. Stephen originally joined Project Vote in September 2013 after earning a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, where he is currently seeking an LL.M. in Civil Rights & Political Law. While at Project Vote, Stephen was appointed by the County Council of Montgomery County, Maryland to serve on the county’s Right to Vote Task Force from 2013 to 2015. Before joining Project Vote, Stephen spent a year lobbying Florida legislators to expand student rights, co-organized a statewide coalition of student environmentalists in Florida, and worked to advance voting rights as a Law & Policy Intern at FairVote. Stephen also volunteered as a Policy Associate for the Montgomery County Renters Alliance and worked on local government legal issues as a legal intern at the County Attorney’s Office for Montgomery County. Stephen is licensed to practice law in Maryland.
“I am thrilled to help protect and expand the right to vote throughout the country,” said Stephen.