By Erin Carden
After years without an ID following his incarceration, Russell finally got what he needed to rebuild his life with help from VoteRiders. Now, he has a job and planned to vote for the first time in 45 years.
On May 3, 2025, sixty-two-year-old Russell W. would cast his ballot for the first time in forty-five years.
After twenty years of being disenfranchised due to a felony record, Russell knew his voting rights had finally been restored in 2023 following his completion of mandatory supervision. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the ID he needed to make his vote count in his home state of Texas. In fact, he didn’t have the ID he needed to do most things, like get a job, secure housing, or receive medical care.
Russell was released from a correctional facility in 2015 without an ID. Getting a new one wasn’t even an option since he had no income, reliable transportation, or family support. With no way to move his life forward, he found himself back in a familiar place: unemployed, living off the grid, and struggling with addiction.
Nine years later, Russell finally found support through Stages of Recovery, a rehabilitation center specializing in addiction treatment in Lubbock, Texas. There, he discovered that VoteRiders offered a service that could help him get exactly what he needed—and all for free.
“I was at their [Stages of Recovery] building one day when I ran across one of VoteRiders’ little cards,” Russell explained. “When I turned it over on the back, I saw, ‘free help’ to get just exactly what I needed.”
Russell called VoteRiders’ helpline (866-432-8683) and was connected to VoteRiders’ Voter ID Assistance Volunteer, Shelly, who assured Russell that she would help him obtain a new copy of his birth certificate, a Social Security card, and a Texas state ID so that he could get back on his feet.
First, Shelly ordered a new copy of Russell’s birth certificate from the Vital Statistics Office in Dallas and shipped it overnight. Then, Russell discovered another addiction treatment center called Open Door Mission, which had standing appointments with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Russell secured an earlier appointment through Open Door Mission, and Shelly arranged a free ride for him to the DPS so that he could pick up his new Social Security Card and Texas State ID.
“Shelly was all accommodating,” Russell said. “She was telling me, ‘whatever you need, you let me know.’ “
With his new ID, Russell successfully landed a job and could now access healthcare and other essential everyday services, like sending a package. On May 3, for the first time in four and a half decades, he made his voice heard in the Texas municipal elections.
“The most important are your local elections, especially your school board,” Russell emphasized. “If you catch people when they’re young, you can influence generations.”
This was certainly true for Russell, who participated in numerous grassroots political activities with his parents as a child, including phone banking and door-to-door canvassing.
“For the period in my life when I couldn’t vote, I knew that I could go out and help people become informed,” Russell explained. “And if I could influence 10, 15, or 20 people to believe that this candidate is the best for the position, it’s just like me voting.
This time, Russell could educate his community about local candidates and cast his own vote at the ballot box.
“Voting is a freedom that people who I don’t even know are willing to shed blood or maybe even give their lives for,” he said. “Voting is an important right to me.”
If you or someone you know needs ID information or assistance, call or text our helpline at 866-432-8643 or visit VoteRiders.org/help to learn more about how we can help.
Erin Carden is VoteRiders’ Digital Communications Coordinator.
May 22, 2025.
