“VoteRiders gives people power through information,” Says North Carolina Voter

It was time for 26-year-old Malin to renew his North Carolina driver’s license so he could legally drive and vote in the 2024 general election, but he kept putting it off because he didn’t have the time. He also has a special classification on his license because he wears glasses, so he thought he’d need to make a trip to the DMV for an updated vision test. 

“It’s one thing to go online and renew your license and then wait seven to ten business days for it to get to you, and it’s another thing to have to plan to go to the DMV, spend maybe 30 minutes to an hour to do the vision test, and wait again for it to come after that,” Malin explained. “And honestly, I didn’t have time to do that, so I gave up.” 

But with the 2024 general election right around the corner—and a work trip where he’d have to drive— Malin knew he’d eventually have to make time. Voting is important to him, and he didn’t want to risk missing out on one of the most consequential elections in US history. “I’m typically the type of person who doesn’t like to wait when it comes to voting because it’s so important,” he said. 

In August, Malin mentioned his expired license to his friend, who immediately suggested he reach out to Kobie Wright, VoteRiders’ North Carolina Organizer. According to his friend, VoteRiders helped him get a new North Carolina driver’s license for free, and he suggested that Malin also reach out to Kobie for assistance. Sure enough, Kobie was the right person for Malin to call. 

“Kobie walked me through everything I needed to get my license renewed in the most seamless way possible,” Malin explained. “He also cleared up a lot of the misconceptions I had about renewing my license. I thought I had to go to the DMV and do the vision test, but I was actually able to just work with Kobie to go on the DMV’s website, put in my new information, and then get my DL reissued to me. That was really helpful.”

But Kobie didn’t stop there. He also helped Malin figure out where to vote and make a voting plan, ensuring he had the smoothest voting experience possible. 

At an early age, Malin was inspired by his mother’s dedication to her community, which helped fuel his belief in the transformative power of voting and its critical role in building a democracy that represents all Americans.

“Growing up, my mom sat on the community relations board in Charlotte,” he explained. “And so from an early age, I understood the power of representation and being able to make decisions that directly impact communities. You wanna have a say in who sits at that table making decisions that directly impact you. Even if it is by doing something as ‘simple’ as casting a vote, I think that is so important, no matter if it’s for a presidential election, a gubernatorial one, a local seat—whatever it is.” 

Malin’s belief in the power of voting is another reason he’s a huge fan of VoteRiders’ mission to make sure every voter has the ID they need to cast their ballot. 

“VoteRiders gives people power through information on how they can vote and make decisions for themselves and the community they live in,” he said. I think that is just incredible work.”

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.

February 26, 2025.