First-time Voter? Here’s How to Get a Free State ID
By Erin Carden
With help from her teacher and VoteRiders, Amani got the ID she needed to make her voice heard at the ballot box for the very first time this past May.
By Erin Carden
With help from her teacher and VoteRiders, Amani got the ID she needed to make her voice heard at the ballot box for the very first time this past May.
Amani was raised in a family of lifelong voters, so there was no question in her mind that she was going to register to vote the moment she turned eighteen. But as a first-time voter in Philadelphia, she needed an ID to cast her first ballot.
Thanks to her teacher, Amani knew exactly what to do.
During a lesson on civic education, Amani’s twelfth-grade Social Studies teacher handed out VoteRiders’ Voter ID Information Cards—pocket-sized guides on Pennsylvania’s voter ID law and which forms of ID can be used to vote. On the back of the card, students found information on how to contact VoteRiders for free help getting an ID or any underlying documents needed, like a Social Security card or birth certificate.
As a new eighteen-year-old eager to cast her first ballot in Pennsylvania’s upcoming primary, Amani didn’t waste any time.
She reached out for help through VoteRiders’ website and was quickly connected to a VoteRiders Voter ID Assistance Volunteer who helped her schedule an appointment at her local Department of Transportation office, walked her through what other ID documents she’d need to bring, and covered the cost when her Pennsylvania state ID was finally ready to pick up.
Now, Amani had everything she needed to do her part in helping shape the outcome of her state’s next election.
“I think voting for the first time will be exciting and a chance for me to have my voice heard, potentially making a difference in some ways,” Amani said. “I think it’s important to voice our opinions on things impacting our everyday lives. Some issues I’m passionate about that voting can make a difference in are abortion rights, gun control, law enforcement, and education.”
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. For more information on how we can work together to support and empower voters in your community, visit VoteRiders.org/partner.
June 30, 2025.
Erin Carden is VoteRiders Digital Communications Coordinator.
