Quincy Votes! is committed to objective, impartial voter information
As an organization aimed at boosting civic engagement, Quincy Votes! works to raise awareness about elections, candidate records, and the voting process. Our goal is to strengthen our community and democracy by engaging as many voices in government policies and practices as possible.
Our nonpartisan group partners with community members in Quincy, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to engage with them on local issues and encourage them to participate in the electoral process.
Quincy Votes! will never endorse any candidates or parties. We aim to provide accurate, unbiased information for voters to make their own informed choices.
Quincy Votes! is a volunteer based group, made up of residents who are civically engaged. Many individuals volunteer with local issues-based groups, serve on their children’s schools’ parent-teacher organizations, and regularly watch – and speak at – city meetings. Some volunteer with local political campaigns, and some run for office themselves.
While we may voice our personal opinions about issues or candidates outside of our participation in Quincy Votes!, the work we do as Quincy Votes! will remain nonpartisan and fact-based.
–The Quincy Votes! Board of Directors
Liz Speakman, Kathy Geraghty, Mary Lally, Dave Shiga, Bill Spirito, and Karl Becker
Our story
Only 17% of eligible voters cast ballots for Quincy city councilors and school committee members in the 2021 election. Two residents, Liz Speakman and Maggie McKee, started chatting about how to boost that number and were delighted when about 50 people showed up to brainstorm with them.
Quincy Votes! was born out of that first meeting at Wollaston Congregational Church on December 4, 2021.
In 2023, Quincy Votes! became an official 501c3 nonprofit, with six board members and three unofficial student board members.
Board members
Liz Speakman (president): As the President of the Board of Quincy Votes!, I have been committed to the formation and implementation of the group since its inception. I believe that engaging all members of Quincy will lead to more representative and effective government leadership. Our current civic engagement is often reactionary when we hear about something happening and rally people to have a voice in the process. I envision a Quincy where people from across the community come together to lay out a positive vision for the community and work toward that collectively. I believe Quincy Votes! has the ability to be a convener and leader in forming and fighting for that vision. I am excited about the possibility of leading the charge and continuing to bring more people into the process with us.
Kathy Geraghty (vice president): Kathy Geraghty is committed to continue Quincy Votes! by engaging Quincy residents on the importance of voting, as well as providing unbiased, fact-driven information to assist residents in making decisions at the ballot box. When all people participate in the voting process, we get city that benefits all people. By voting you are directly impacting our community, services, and policies.
Karl Becker (treasurer): I have always considered voting as “just something you do,” since my parents consistently voted at my school when I was growing up. I started voting as soon as I turned 18, but I quickly noticed friends in their late teens and early 20s claiming voting didn’t matter, but also simultaneously complaining about various governmental decisions. Democracy doesn’t just happen - it requires participation, and the simplest thing we can all do to keep democracy alive is vote. That’s why the mission of Quincy Votes!, to increase voter turnout and civic engagement, resonates so strongly with me.
David Shiga (vice treasurer): I am passionate about Quincy Votes! because I believe we can make Quincy a more transparent, equitable, and inclusive city by increasing engagement and participation in elections and decision making. I have been coordinating our efforts to become a nonprofit to help us obtain funding to expand our work. I am excited about the potential to use data to better target our efforts. As a board member, I would continue working to put our group on a solid foundation so we can make a positive impact on our city.
Mary Lally (clerk): Mary Lally, a retired Legal Administrative Assistant and Quincy homeowner since 2007, has been an active member of Quincy Votes! since its very first meeting. Mary is dedicated to increasing voter participation among Quincy’s diverse and underrepresented populations. By focusing on voter education and outreach, she works to ensure that local turnout is a true reflection of the community she has called home for nearly two decades.
Tere Rodriguez (member): I’ve been part of Quincy Votes! since it started in 2021. I used to think of myself mainly as a voter in national elections, but through QV!, I’ve become deeply aware of how much local elections shape our day-to-day lives. Seeing that impact up close has been powerful, and it motivates me to support QV!’s mission to increase civic engagement in Quincy and keep our democratic process strong and meaningful.
Bill Spirito (member): I hope to already have contributed my grain of sand to the common goals of Quincy Votes!, having participated at the first meeting in Wollaston and almost all the meetings since then. I rallied donations for the winners of the youth logo contest, including one from Uncle Sam, and I unsuccessfully tried to revive the Kids Vote program. I wish to continue to work to strengthen year-round civic participation in Quincy in addition to increase turnout in local elections.
Amy Tan (member): Amy Tan is a first-year at Harvard University concentrating in Government and Environmental Science & Public Policy. She has worked with Quincy Votes! since July 2022 and has done door-knocking and tabling. She has even asked questions at a forum! A Mandarin and Cantonese speaker, she hopes to encourage others in her community to vote. As a board member, she has managed both the front-end and logistical side of door knocking campaigns. She also hopes to encourage higher turnout for school committee elections and served as a school committee representative at North Quincy High School before graduating in 2025.
Alex Schramm (member): Alex Schramm is a freshman at Brown University concentrating in Applied Mathematics-Economics and International Affairs. His involvement with Quincy Votes! dates back to October of 2022, from organizing participation in city events, such as the August Moon Festival, to co-leading the Ward 6 Precinct 2 door-knocking campaign to increase voter turnout. He spoke at the Quincy Votes! 2025 fundraiser, emphasizing the importance of educating young minds to become civically engaged and reject intellectual complicity. Now, he shares experience and passion with his new home, Providence, through the advocacy board in Brown Votes and consulting for local nonprofits through 180 Degree Consulting.