Vote.org Sues Founder Debra Cleaver for Defamation Over Alleged Smear Campaign Post-Termination
On September 8, 2025, Vote.org, the prominent nonpartisan voting rights organization, filed a defamation lawsuit in Marion County Superior Court in Indiana against its founder and former CEO, Debra Cleaver, accusing her of orchestrating a “coordinated campaign of attacks” to damage the group’s reputation and operations. The suit, seeking damages and an injunction to halt further statements, stems from Cleaver’s ongoing criticisms since her 2019 termination and follows a series of prior legal battles between the parties, including Cleaver’s withdrawn wrongful termination claim. Vote.org alleges Cleaver’s actions have spread misinformation to donors, partners, and media, threatening the organization’s mission to register millions of voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Background: Cleaver’s Tenure and Ouster
Debra Cleaver founded Vote.org in 2008 (initially as ElectionDay.org) as a tech-driven platform to simplify voter registration and turnout, evolving it into one of the largest digital voting advocacy groups in the U.S. Under her leadership until 2019, the organization registered over 8 million voters and partnered with celebrities like Taylor Swift for high-profile campaigns. However, internal tensions boiled over in the summer of 2019 when the board of directors unanimously voted to remove Cleaver as CEO, citing “differences in opinion” over strategy and operations. Andrea Hailey, a board member since 2017, was appointed as her successor.
Cleaver’s departure triggered immediate fallout, including the loss of $4 million in promised funding from donor Sage Weil. In August 2022, Cleaver countersued Vote.org in California Superior Court for wrongful termination, breach of charitable trust, and misappropriation of funds, alleging the board retaliated against her for threatening to report IRS violations related to a severance agreement. She claimed the organization used charitable funds for personal benefits, fired key staff, and withheld financial disclosures. Vote.org denied the allegations, calling them “without merit,” and the case was withdrawn with prejudice in an undisclosed settlement, though a cross-complaint from Vote.org remains ongoing.
Subsequent disputes have escalated. In July 2025, Cleaver filed a formal complaint with the IRS and state regulators, accusing Vote.org of fiduciary malfeasance, including excessive executive compensation (Hailey’s salary reportedly $250,000 annually, $100,000 more than Cleaver’s) and wasteful spending. Vote.org responded by threatening litigation, labeling Cleaver’s efforts a “sustained and vindictive campaign rooted in misinformation.” The organization spent nearly $600,000 on legal fees in 2023 alone to fend off related suits, including one from former employee Meighan Stone alleging disability discrimination and retaliation under CEO Hailey.
Details of the Current Lawsuit
The latest suit, filed by Vote.org and represented by McCarter & English partner Vanessa Avery, accuses Cleaver of defamation, tortious interference with business relations, and abuse of process. Key allegations include:
- Coordinated Attacks: Since 2019, Cleaver has allegedly directed false statements to Vote.org’s Indiana-based CEO, partners, and donors, including claims of financial mismanagement, illegal fund use, and electoral misconduct. The complaint details emails, social media posts, and media leaks where Cleaver purportedly portrayed the organization as corrupt and ineffective.
- Impact on Operations: Vote.org claims these actions have eroded donor confidence, leading to funding shortfalls and staff turnover. For instance, Cleaver’s July 2025 complaint prompted regulatory scrutiny, distracting from voter outreach efforts.
- Specific Incidents: The suit references Cleaver’s public statements to outlets like Politico, where she questioned Vote.org’s voter registration goals (claiming 8 million was “never the goal”) and accused the board of “private inurement.” Vote.org argues these are baseless, as her prior lawsuit was withdrawn and no wrongdoing was substantiated.
Avery stated in a press release: “We filed this lawsuit to safeguard voting access for tens of millions of Americans by stopping Ms. Cleaver’s coordinated attacks on Vote.org. Since being replaced as CEO in 2019, Ms. Cleaver has engaged in a relentless campaign to undermine the organization she once led.” The venue in Indiana is justified by the location of key stakeholders affected by Cleaver’s communications.
Cleaver’s attorney, Philip Andonian—a litigator known for representing Rep. Eric Swalwell in Trump-related cases—has not commented on the new suit but previously described Cleaver’s actions as exposing “fiduciary malfeasance” and seeking board reconstitution.
Broader Context and Reactions
Vote.org, which claims to have helped register over 100 million voters since 2016, has faced scrutiny beyond this feud. A 2024 Philanthropy.com report highlighted high turnover, layoffs, and regulatory lapses under Hailey, with former employees blaming leadership for missing fundraising goals. The organization also drew criticism in 2019 for erroneous Mississippi billboards promoting the wrong election date. Despite challenges, Vote.org remains influential, partnering with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on initiatives like the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, which fielded 246,000 calls in 2020.
Public reaction on social media has been mixed, with some X users supporting Cleaver as a whistleblower (“Founders shouldn’t be silenced for speaking truth to power”) and others backing Vote.org (“Internal drama hurts voting rights—focus on the mission”). The suit could further drain resources, with Vote.org’s legal spending already ballooning post-2019.
No court date has been set, but the case adds to a tangled web of litigation that has defined Vote.org’s recent history. As the 2026 elections approach, the dispute risks overshadowing the group’s core work in expanding voter access.