#  East Coast Votes Summit 

 



##  East Coast Votes Summit 

 

 

       ![Two students pose for a photo in the bleachers of Sanders Theater during the live 2024 presidential election watch party.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-08/VotingSymposium_EventPage_HeaderPhoto.png?h=606155c8&itok=ARhKJxK0) 

 

 



 

 



The East Coast Votes Summit will take place on **Saturday, September 19** at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, MA, from 9AM to 4:30PM ET. This free nonpartisan event will bring together MA campuses to support nonpartisan engagement throughout the year. Participants can expect a day filled with breakout sessions, keynote speakers, networking, and recognition of the Boston Votes Awardees.



 

 

 [ Register for the Summit arrow\_circle\_right ](https://forms.gle/2FyUPKXgQXX1ezXT6) 

 

 

 

 

 

##  About the Organizers 

 



    ![A headshot of Amir Smith.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/2026-08/AmirSmith_032626_0009%20Large%20Background%20Removed.png?itok=d87-w6CQ) 

 



 

  



#####  Amir Smith 

My name is Amir Smith, and I am a freshman (Class of 2029) from Dallas, Texas in Grays West studying History. I'm so excited to be this year's Co-Chair of Harvard Votes Challenge, Harvard's flagship non-partisan organization dedicated to voter empowerment, education, and outreach by increasing voter registration and participation on and beyond Harvard's campus!



 



 

 

 

    ![A headshot of Carter Umphress.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/2026-08/CarterUmphress_032626_0005%20Large%20Background%20Removed.png?itok=uvFSHxcw) 

 



 

  



#####  Carter Umphress 

I’m Carter Umphress, and I’m a sophomore (Class of 2028) originally from Las Vegas, NV studying Government and Economics. I am one of the Co-Chairs of the Harvard Votes Challenge, which seeks to promote voter turnout and civic engagement on Harvard’s campus. I’m looking forward to working towards 100% voter registration and turnout as the 2026 midterms approach.



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

##  Agenda 

SortTimeSession9-10AM

#### **Arrival and Networking (Breakfast)**

*Harvard Kennedy School, LITTAUER L-150 TRUSTMAN*

Enjoy a continental breakfast with coffee, tea, and assorted pastries while networking with other event attendees and guests.



10-10:30AM

#### **Opening Speaker**

Andrea Hailey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of [*Vote.org*](https://www.vote.org/)

*Harvard Kennedy School, JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. FORUM*



10:30-11:30AM

#### **Breakout 1 & Breakout 2**

**HKS Fall ‘26 Fellow Conversation**

*Harvard Kennedy School, LITTAUER L-140 GOODMAN*

---

**Innovating GOTV: An Idea Sharing Workshop**

*Harvard Kennedy School, LITTAUER L-130 BOLTON*



11:30AM-12:30PM

#### **Keynote Speaker Session**

*Harvard Kennedy School, JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. FORUM*



12:30-1:00PM

#### **Harvard Yard Tour**

*Start from Johnston Gate*

A guided tour of Harvard Yard.



1:00-2:00PM

#### **Lunch**

*Harvard College, Annenberg Dining Hall*

Attendees are invited to have lunch on their own in Harvard Square or have a complimentary lunch at Harvard College's iconic first-year dining hall space, Annenberg.



2:00-3:00PM

#### **Breakout 3 & Breakout 4**

**Invisible Barriers with Stephanie L. Young**

*Harvard Kennedy School, LITTAUER L-140 GOODMAN*

Stephanie L. Young, Former Executive Director of [*When We All Vote*](https://whenweallvote.org/)

---

**Sifting Through the Numbers: A Harvard Youth Poll Panel**

*Harvard Kennedy School, LITTAUER L-130 BOLTON*

John Della Volpe, Institute of Politics (IOP) Director of Polling; Jordan Schwartz, 2024 Harvard Votes & 2025 Youth Poll Chair; Sophia Robertson, 2026 Harvard Youth Poll Chair



3:00-4:00PM

#### **Breakout 5 & Breakout 6**

**Social Media, Communications, & GOTV with Ashlynn Profit**

*Harvard Kennedy School, LITTAUER L-140 GOODMAN*

Ashlynn Profit, Executive Vice President at [*When We All Vote*](https://whenweallvote.org/) and [*Civic Nation*](https://civicnation.org/)

---

**Public Service Conversation with the Philips Brooks House (PBH)**

*Harvard Kennedy School, LITTAUER L-130 BOLTON*



4:00-4:30PM

#### **Closing Remarks**

*Harvard Kennedy School, JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. FORUM*









 

 

##  Meet the Speakers 

 



  [### John Della Volpe

 ](https://iop.harvard.edu/about/staff/john-della-volpe)Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics



 

   ![A headshot of John Della Volpe.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-08/JohnDellaVolpe_Headshot.png?h=d0aacb26&itok=TDdXJm0_) 

 

 

 

  [### Andrea Hailey

 ](https://www.vote.org/team/)Chief Executive Officer (CEO), [Vote.org](https://www.vote.org/)



 

   ![A headshot of Andrea Hailey.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-08/AndreaHailey_Headshot.png?itok=5MrKAw1w) 

 

 

 

  [### Stephanie L. Young

 ](https://www.stephlyoung.com/)Former Executive Director of [When We All Vote](https://whenweallvote.org/)



 

   ![A headshot of Stephanie L. Young.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-08/StephanieLYoung_Headshot.png?itok=2dtBW54P) 

 

 

 

  [### Ashlynn Profit

 ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlynn-profit-3740107a/)Executive Vice President, Communications at [When We All Vote](https://whenweallvote.org/) and [Civic Nation](https://civicnation.org/)



 

   ![A headshot of Ashlynn Profit.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-08/AshlynnProfit_Headshot_FINAL.png?itok=ZJLiXaZB) 

 

 

 

  [### Jordan Schwartz

 ](https://iop.harvard.edu/about/student-leadership/jordan-schwartz)2024 Harvard Votes & 2025 Youth Poll Chair



 

   ![A headshot of Jordan Schwartz.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-08/JordanSchwartz_Headshot.png?itok=jcw4ZPtk) 

 

 

 

  [### Sophia Robertson

 ](https://iop.harvard.edu/about/student-leadership/sophia-robertson)2026 Harvard Youth Poll Chair



 

   ![A headshot of Sophia Robertson.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-08/SophiaRobertson_Headshot.png?itok=z_96Au5C) 

 

 

 

  

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##  Register for the Summit 

Interested in attending the summit? Register using the link below.



 

 



 [ Register arrow\_circle\_right ](https://forms.gle/2FyUPKXgQXX1ezXT6) 

 

 

 

 

 

DSO Special Projects & Initiatives

### \#CrimsonVotes 

 

Harvard College is committed to fostering a robust culture of voting and civic engagement among new and young voters at a time when trust in our democracy seems to be at an all-time low.



 [ Learn more about #CrimsonVotes arrow\_circle\_right ](https://dso.college.harvard.edu/dso-special-projects-initiatives/crimson-votes) 

 



      ![Three students in Annenberg dining hall in election night gear during the 2024 presidential elections watch party.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7076/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-08/ElectionNight_110524_0250%20Large.jpeg?itok=OkhtlGMY)