Leaving Prison Without an ID: Howard’s Re-entry Barriers

When fifty-six year-old Howard was released from prison, he faced a challenge many formerly incarcerated Americans know too well: he had no documents to prove who he was. 

The last time Howard had an ID was when he was first incarcerated in 1991. Now, thirty-five years later, he didn’t have the paperwork he needed to start rebuilding his life. 

“When I left prison, I was supposed to leave with certain things — but I left with nothing,” Howard explained. ”I left with no identification, no Social Security Card, nothing. It was a struggle right off the bat.” 

Thankfully, Howard enrolled in a re-entry program in East Point, Georgia, where a mentor helped him track down his birth certificate. It was a crucial first step, but a birth certificate copy alone wasn’t enough to allow him to start working and earn an income. 

That’s when Howard’s mentor gave him a number to call for help: VoteRiders. 

Howard called VoteRiders’ Helpline and was quickly connected to Laura, a trained volunteer. Laura scheduled Howard an appointment at the Department of Driver Services (DDS) and arranged a free Lyft ride to take him there. This was a huge relief for Howard, who was tired from walking everywhere for the last few months. 

“A lot of people were on me because at fifty-six years old, they’re like, ‘you don’t need to be walking like that,’ “ he said. But I was walking miles every day.” 

Once Howard got to the DDS office and completed the required paperwork, he finally reached the final step — paying for his ID. Suddenly, his stomach sank as he realized he made a big mistake. The cash VoteRiders gave him to pay for his ID was gone — he used it to pay the Lyft driver, not realizing it was for his ID instead. 

With no way to finish the process, Howard took a second Lyft ride home, arranged by VoteRiders. Laura reassured him that it was okay, they’d try again. The next day, Laura met Howard at the DDS office to pay the ID fee directly and help him navigate any other unexpected bumps. This time, Howard left with his new temporary ID in hand and his official one in the mail. 

“It was driving me up the wall — being unable to do anything without my ID,” he explained. When VoteRiders stepped in, all doors opened up. That was a life changer for me.” He added, “There’s a lot of organizations that talk about who they helped but then when you try to get some help from them you find that their actions don’t match their words. VoteRiders did more than I was even told was going to happen and actually overlooked me messing stuff up…More people need to know about VoteRiders and need to come in and volunteer and donate because y’all say y’all gonna help people and that’s what y’all do.” 

But Howard isn’t done with VoteRiders just yet. Next, he’ll receive help securing his Social Security card, which has already been a frustrating process for Howard. 

“I went to the Social Security Office,” Howard explained. “They told me I couldn’t be there, I had to do everything online. But when I went online, the website wasn’t working. So then I called and their voice box was full and they couldn’t take any more messages. So I can’t call, I can’t do it online and I can’t go in. So I don’t know how to get my Social Security Card. 

With help from VoteRiders, Howard will soon have all the documents he needs to work,earn an income, and eventually vote in Georgia’s elections. 

Years ago, while stationed overseas, Howard voted absentee after carefully researching every candidate. Voting is a freedom he takes seriously. He sees it as an opportunity to shape his future and honor those who sacrificed their lives for the right to vote. 

“I’m gonna make sure I vote in every election,” Howard emphasized. “Voting is mandatory… I was raised [to believe] that if you really care about your life, then you have to vote. Too many people fought and died to give us the opportunity to vote…I honestly believe that every vote counts. People kill me with ‘I’m not going to vote’ — they don’t understand they can change history when they vote. “

If you or someone you know needs ID information or assistance, call or text our Voter ID Helpline at 866-432-8643 or visit VoteRiders.org/help to learn more.

Erin Carden is VoteRiders’ Digital Communications Coordinator. 

January, 2026.