What to Do When You Don’t Have Documents Required For ID: Barbara's Story

With its expiration date nearing, it was time for Houston resident Barbara to renew her Texas driver’s license again — except this time around, it was different. 

In July 2024, the State of Texas sent seventy-four-year-old Barbara a letter in the mail informing her that to renew her license this time, she would need to prove her identity by bringing her Social Security card, proof of residency, and a certified copy of her original birth certificate to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Barbara had renewed her license many times over the past 50 years and had never been told that she needed to dig up so many documents.

“I thought, ‘Are you kidding me?’ she recounted. “I had to show them all these documents when I first moved here in 1975, and now all of a sudden they want these documents again when they obviously know who I am — I’ve been here all this time!”

Barbara hadn’t seen her birth certificate in over thirty years; not since she needed a background check to receive her attorney license — and getting it then was no easy task. She was born in Delaware in 1951, but all Delaware birth certificates before 1952 were archived, so she was unable to order hers online. 

“I had to send my brother, who was in Delaware, to physically drive to the archives building at the state capital and pay money to get it,” she explained. 

But this time, she couldn’t find it, and getting her brother’s help was no longer an option. Barbara lives alone and had no way to get to Delaware herself. Houston had just been hit by a deadly hurricane that left over two million people and businesses without power, and Barbara was still recovering from a life-threatening bout of heatstroke. 

“The power outages were just unbelievable,” she stressed. “I almost died, actually. A lot of older people did die because of the extreme heat.” 

Barbara’s health was not the only barrier to her getting the documents she needed — her car was also damaged in the hurricane. Her insurance company denied her claim, and she couldn’t afford to fix it herself. Given that Houston has limited reliable public transportation and Barbara is disabled, her ability to get around was severely limited. 

“I just couldn’t get out and do all these things that were required for me to renew my driver’s license,” she stressed.

Soon, Barbara began to run into problems trying to use her expired license for everyday needs. She couldn’t get documents notarized or order groceries to her home. She also couldn’t receive medical care or exercise her right to vote. 

Texas asks voters to show a photo ID to vote in person. A Texas driver’s license is accepted for voting, and it can be expired up to four years or longer if you’re 70 years or older. Although poll workers have the responsibility to enforce state voter ID laws, the complicated nature of the laws creates confusion for both voters and election officials and can lead to eligible voters like Barbara being turned away. 

When Barbara tried to vote in the 2024 General Election, she was incorrectly turned away because, according to poll workers, her license was invalid due to being expired. According to ID laws in Texas, Barbara should have been legally allowed to vote with an expired license because of her age. She also brought multiple forms of supporting ID, including utility bills and her Social Security card — none of which were accepted. 

“They can see my record, see that I’ve lived here for 50 years,” she said. I had every kind of ID you could imagine, but they wouldn’t accept any of it. I vote in every election because elected officials make laws that affect us all personally. Always have, always will. That’s why it hurt so bad when they turned me away.”

Shortly after this incident, Barbara sought medical care at Texas Clinic, a medical center and VoteRiders partner. She was seen by a counselor, but was told she could not return unless she had a current, state-issued ID.

Luckily, the staff at Texas Clinic knew exactly who could help — VoteRiders. 

Texas Clinic connected Barbara to Jessica, VoteRiders’ Houston Regional Director. Relief washed over her when she learned that not only would VoteRiders request and pay for her birth certificate and renewed driver’s license — we would also help her get free rides to the DPS. 

Jessica got to work right away by calling the Delaware Public Archives office and requesting a certified copy of Barbara’s birth certificate. Barbara received it in the mail soon after. With her birth certificate in hand, it was time to schedule an appointment at the Texas DPS, which was a challenge. DPS appointments can only be scheduled online, and oftentimes the website is down or there are no appointments available. 

“That’s a hardship for elderly people,” Barbara pointed out. “A lot of people don’t have internet or don’t know how to use it.”

It took several weeks for Barbara to secure an appointment, and when she finally did, she was turned away because the DPS computer system was down across the entire state. Jessica helped her reschedule her appointment, and on her second attempt, Barbara faced another hardship. This time, she was stranded by her driver on her way to her appointment. 

“My driver didn’t turn on the AC in the deadly heat,” she explained. “Then, with no explanation, he dropped me off in the street. He got out and took my walker out of the vehicle — I can hardly walk or stand up — and he said I had to get out because he got called away. ”

At this point, Barbara was feeling the effects of heat exhaustion again, so she called Jessica immediately, and Jessica arranged another ride for her right away. When Barbara got to the DPS this time, the computer systems were functioning properly, and she was able to renew her license. 

Aside from the direct logistical support with ordering documents, scheduling appointments, and arranging transportation, Barbara shared that having all associated costs covered was also incredibly helpful. 

“VoteRiders really helped me because I’m living in poverty,” Barbara explained. On Social Security, it’s hard to even buy enough food and pay your utilities.” 

Barbara finally has the ID she needs for daily survival and voting with confidence — a right she has fought for throughout her life.

“I’m just really thankful that VoteRiders is out there because there are definitely barriers to people being able to vote—and it should be illegal. I was born in the early 50s when women didn’t have many rights at all. I really had to fight for everything my whole life as a woman. I am absolutely outraged when I think of all the decades that I have fought to protect voters’ rights, civil rights, women’s rights, and the rights of the disabled, and now they’re trying to overturn these laws that we have fought for for decades. People have fought and died for voting rights. I’m just absolutely outraged because we’re going back in time. And it’s just heartbreaking to me because I fought all these years.” 

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.

September 30, 2025. 

Erin Carden is VoteRiders’ Digital Communications Coordinator.