Ryan Nicol
Spread the Vote, a national organization aimed at helping potential voters receive government-issued IDs, has named Miami native Matthew Tisdol as its new state director in Florida.
Tisdol previously worked as the testing and investigation coordinator for the Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, a non-profit aimed at helping people process housing discrimination claims. His work has been profiled by the Miami Herald.
“We are thrilled to have Matt on board to lead the Spread The Vote Florida team,” said the group’s founder, Kat Calvin.
“For too many Floridians, getting an ID has been extremely challenging, but we know that with Matt’s experience in fighting for justice, he can help people across the state with the barriers they face in getting identification.”
Spread The Vote currently has local chapters in South Florida, Palm Beach, Tampa, Central Florida, Northeast Florida, Tallahassee and Northwest Florida. Tisdol said he hopes to grow the group’s influence across the state.
“Spread The Vote is doing very powerful work, helping people in communities across Florida who are too often forgotten and left behind,” said Tisdol.
“As state director here in Florida, my mission will be to continue and expand on the work that has been done to ensure that Floridians across the state get the IDs they need to not only participate in our democracy but have access to more opportunity.”
In a release announcing the move, the group says helping people acquire IDs is about more than just the political process.
“These IDs have not only helped people vote but get a job, healthcare, housing and make them feel like a person again,” according to the statement.
