Voter Stories

First-time Voter? Here’s How to Get a Free State ID

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.

How to Get an ID After Being Incarcerated: Russell’s Second Chance

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.

What to Do When the BMV Rejects Your Documents: Amanda’s Story

After repeated setbacks at the BMV, Amanda finally got her Ohio state ID with help from VoteRiders and the 513Relief Bus.

How to Replace Lost ID Documents: Tyandrah's Journey to Stability

After a mental health crisis left Tyandrah without ID or housing, VoteRiders helped her replace vital documents so she could regain stability and reclaim her life.

Struggling to Get a Driver’s License? Here’s How Nemecio Got Help Fast

After being incarcerated, Nemecio needed a Texas driver’s license. VoteRiders helped him get one in only a week, paving the way to employment and voting.

New Wisconsin Resident Votes in April 1st Election

When Laura contacted VoteRiders’ National Helpline on Saturday, March 29th, she imagined it would be unlikely that she would be able to vote in Wisconsin’s high-stakes election on April 1st because she didn’t have a Wisconsin state photo ID. Still, she wanted to start the process of getting one so that she would, at the […]

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

When Malin’s expired ID threatened his 2024 November ballot, VoteRiders helped him renew it online and make a plan to vote, ensuring his voice was heard.

VoteRiders Helps Wisconsin Mother After Fire

After a fire destroyed her home, VoteRiders helped Denesha cover the costs of new birth certificates and her driver’s license.

Indiana Voter Denied Provisional Ballot

Alyssa fought for her right to vote after being denied a provisional ballot. With VoteRiders’ help, she secured an ID and made her vote count.

Florida Resident Discovers Voting Options Without ID

VoteRiders helped April obtain a state ID after years without access to basic services and the ability to vote in person.

VoteRiders Helps Indiana Voter Reclaim Identity and Secure ID

VoteRiders assisted Jemmie in overcoming a major ID challenge, reclaiming her identity, and successfully navigating the process of obtaining a new state ID.

Texas Youth Will 'Never Forget' Getting First ID

Juni, an 18-year-old facing housing insecurity, struggled to get a job or stable housing because he didn’t have a government-issued ID.

North Carolina Voter Almost Gives Up Trying to Get ID

Prentiss Thomas lost his ID, jeopardizing his access to treatment and the chance to find work. With VoteRiders’ help, he secured a new ID and started rebuilding his future.

Pennsylvania Voter Finally Gets ID to Match Gender Identity

Having an ID that accurately reflects a person’s identity can significantly improve mental health, yet many Americans, like Skyler, encounter bureaucratic and discriminatory barriers.

Dreams of Voting Were Diminishing—Then VoteRiders Came Along

VoteRiders stepped in to help a mother and daughter overcome voting barriers, assisting the daughter in securing an ID and ensuring both were able to cast their ballots despite numerous challenges.

'Grateful Beyond Words,' Arizona Voter Secures ID

After losing her birth certificate, Nicole faced many hurdles. With VoteRiders’ free services, she was able to get the ID she needed to cast a ballot in Arizona.

Seiyonna Renews ID and Votes for the First Time

Seiyonna, a 21 year-old Nebraska resident, contacted VoteRiders for help renewing her driver’s license and registering to vote for the first time.

Unhoused Student Needs ID For Shelter, Employment, and Voting

While unhoused at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, Jarell fought to get the ID he needed to secure housing, become a registered nurse, and vote.

Costly ID Renewal Fee Threatens to Block Wisconsin Voter

Dana needed an updated ID to vote and access housing and government assistance, but the DMV fee was out of reach. Then VoteRiders stepped in.

"In My Lifetime, There Hasn't Been a Greater Time To Vote Than Now" Says Alabama Voter

Edward’s life began to spiral after he lost his job and his Alabama state ID was stolen after someone broke into his car. His situation worsened with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left Edward ineligible for government aid without proper identification. Edward faced bureaucratic hurdles and repeated rejections for nearly five years during […]

‘I Feel Freerer’ Says North Carolina Voter After Getting ID

Deana Brotherton, a trans woman who became unhoused in North Carolina, struggled to obtain a state ID due to bureaucratic barriers and financial constraints. With the help of VoteRiders, Deana successfully obtained her ID in January 2024, enabling her to access essential services and vote in North Carolina’s upcoming elections. After she successfully secures stable […]

VoteRiders helped Linda track down multiple decades-old marriage licenses and divorce decrees so she could get the ID she needed to vote in Indiana

VoteRiders Helps Indiana Voter Track Down 50-Year-Old Documents so She Can Get ID

BY ERIN CARDEN, DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR — MARCH 15, 2024 More women are engaging in our democracy than ever before, but confusing and complicated voter ID laws are threatening to silence the power of their votes. This Women’s History Month, VoteRiders is spotlighting one woman who had to track down multiple decades-old marriage licenses and […]

'I'll Vote to Give My Opinion' Says Ohio Voter After Securing New ID

BY ERIN CARDEN, DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VOTERIDERS — MARCH 8, 2024 It had been years since fifty-seven-year-old Annette Pereira had an Ohio ID. “I didn’t have all the paperwork I needed to get one,” she explained. To secure identification, Annette first needed a copy of her New York City birth certificate and a Social Security […]

'You Guys Helped Me With This Headache' Said Texas Voter in Letter To VoteRiders

BY ERIN CARDEN, DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VOTERIDERS — JANUARY, 11, 2024 VoteRiders proudly works alongside thousands of partner organizations to bring free voter ID support to our nation’s most marginalized voters. Our partners include (but are not limited to) democracy groups, schools, and direct service providers, like Men of Nehemiah, an organization offering addiction recovery […]

Oklahoma Voter Who Discovered VoteRiders on TikTok Secures ID After Years Without Medical Care

BY ERIN CARDEN, DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VOTERIDERS — DECEMBER 19, 2023 Without a government-issued ID in Oklahoma, 64-year-old Julie Autaubo had to endure three years without critical medical care for her damaged liver. Despite several attempts to secure her ID, a missing marriage license from 39 years ago made it impossible to safeguard her health […]

North Carolina Voter Turns To VoteRiders For ID Help For A Second Time

BY ERIN CARDEN, DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VOTERIDERS — NOVEMBER 30, 2023 When 67 year-old Rosemaria Bowden looked down at her shopping cart and saw that her wallet had vanished, her stomach sank. It was the day before Thanksgiving. She had decided to stop by Walmart to pick up a birthday card for her grandson. One […]

"I felt whole once I got my driver’s license again"

BY ERIN C., DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VOTERIDERS — OCTOBER 18, 2023 In one fell swoop, fifty-one-year-old Fandrea Nazir lost her Social Security card and birth certificate — as well as the birth certificates of her two daughters and two grandchildren — when the folder in which they were stored was mistakenly thrown away by someone at […]

The Power of Partnerships - Working Together To Help Americans in Need

By Pamela Pearson, National Voter ID Assistance Director, North Carolina Voter ID Coalition Coordinator and Deputy General Counsel at VoteRiders — August 9, 2023 Alexander reached out to VoteRiders in early June 2023 after hearing about our free ID services through Community Transitions, one of our North Carolina based partner organizations. He had just been released […]

North Carolinian Can Work Again After Three Years Without Identification

Earl Inscore has been living on the streets of North Carolina for the past three years. Throughout his experience of homelessness, he actively sought employment, but because he lacked proper identification, no one could hire him. After years of attempting to secure his identity documents with little success, Earl was finally able to obtain what […]

North Carolina Resident Can Finally Secure Housing With New Copy of Birth Certificate

JUNE 22, 2023 Thirty-eight-year-old Shakeena didn’t know what to do. After fleeing an abusive relationship and becoming homeless in Charlotte, North Carolina, she finally found safety at a domestic violence shelter run by Safe Alliance. But without a copy of her birth certificate to put on file, she was unable to apply for low-income housing, […]

‘I Have Everything I Need Now’ Says Georgia Voter

If there is one thing to learn from Denise Ellis, it’s that laughter yoga can help you cope with stressful situations – like being at the DMV. Denise is a sixty-nine-year-old laughter yoga instructor who needed a new driver’s license when she moved to Columbus, Georgia, in 2021. Unfortunately, her experience at the DMV reflects […]

‘My New ID is Like My Freedom Papers’ Says Ohio Returning Citizen

After thirty-two and a half years in prison, Willie Florence needed an Ohio state ID so he could apply for a job, secure housing, and begin to rebuild his life again at the age of fifty-one. And with Ohio recently enacting one of the nation’s strictest voter ID laws, he also needed an ID to […]

North Carolina Voter on Road to Recovery After Receiving ID Help from VoteRiders

Bobby Smith was tired of being tired. Twenty-eight years of addiction had taken a toll on his forty-seven-year-old mind and body, and in May 2022 he was ready to turn his life around. After learning about SABER, a North Carolina-based residential recovery program operated by Roof Above, Bobby bought a one-way bus ticket to Charlotte, […]

AZ Grad Student Can Vote Confidently with New ID

After more than two years as an Arizona State University student, 24-year-old Rebecca Tindle was tired of getting questioned whenever she tried to vote with her out-of-state ID. Arizona law permits a voter to use an out-of-state ID as long as they also have another ID with an address that reasonably matches their voter registration. […]

'VoteRiders Added Years to My Life' Says Florida Voter

Carolina fled an abusive relationship that left her with broken ribs, a punctured left lung and destroyed belongings — including her state identification. After a six-day stay at a hospital in Florida, Carolina left with a doctor’s prescription for pain medication, but no pharmacy could dispense the pills unless she presented her ID. She was also […]

Trans Woman Changes Legal Name with Help From VoteRiders

Transgender voters face significant barriers getting to the ballot box to cast a vote that counts. Chanel Riser’s story illustrates the variety of problems the transgender community continues to experience in legally changing their names and getting an ID to vote that reflects their chosen name and gender. Chanel — a 38-year-old hair stylist living […]

Voter ID Story: Displaced by Hurricane Ian, Mercedes Gets ID and Votes

Mercedes Daniels had given up on voting in Florida’s midterm elections. Even though she’d finally gotten her Florida ID to vote with the help of VoteRiders earlier this year, she was displaced by Hurricane Ian in late September and couldn’t afford to make it back to the polling place where she’s registered to vote. But […]

TIME.com: Millions of Georgians Have Voted. It Hasn’t Been Easy for Everyone

(TIME Magazine published a feature Nov. 7 with portraits of Georgia voters who have not had an easy time getting to vote this year. This is one of the portrait/profiles.) Keith Bowens, 56, Lithonia, Georgia Needed ID Keith Bowens didn’t realize he needed an ID to vote until he got a postcard about it in […]

Expired ID leads to job loss and homelessness: Eric’s Story

When Eric’s boss offered him a promotion, he never thought an expired ID would cost him the offer — and his job. But that’s what happened to Eric, a young man who moved to North Carolina and began to build a new life for himself after successfully securing a new job using his then-current New […]

VoteRiders Advocates for Transgender Voters

Before Jey’nce knew about VoteRiders, changing her legal name felt like wishful thinking. But when she found out that her friend and ally — Tracy Pease — would be starting a new position at VoteRiders as Detroit Organizer, her hope reawakened. Everyone who knows Jey’nce Poindexter knows that she is a leader. The 38-year-old transgendered […]

VoteRiders helps returning citizen get ID & rebuild life

Jay is a 40-year-old FedEx driver from North Carolina who loves playing video games, spending time with his stepchildren, and grilling. In 10 months, Jay will have a new house, and in a little over a year he will be picking up and delivering loads as a self-employed truck driver. According to Jay (whose name […]

Dismantling Voting Barriers for Voters with Disabilities

While voter ID laws silence millions of Americans, they hit some communities harder than others. Voters with disabilities are especially affected by voter ID laws because of the challenges they face in getting identification. Many don’t drive so they don’t have driver’s licenses, and they also don’t have their own transportation, making it difficult to […]

Grandmother & Grandson No Longer "Trapped" Thanks to New ID

2022 has been an extremely difficult year for Rosari Williams, a 54-year-old Floridian who became houseless after losing her mother in January. While Ms. Wiliams received her mother’s inheritance, it remained locked away for several months. The reason: she didn’t have an ID. Then, she met Eli Garcia from VoteRiders. In June, Ms. Williams told […]

High School Graduate Secures First Voter ID

Meet Jovonte! Jovonte is an 18-year-old living in Florida who works at Subway and loves to cut hair. After graduating high school in June, Jovonte needed an ID to get a job. Luckily, he was connected to VoteRiders through Sage Shared Living, a group home where he has resided since aging out of foster care. […]

Florida Voter Finally Gets ID Four Years Later

Mac was holding up a sign outside a McDonald’s when VoteRiders’ Florida Voter ID Coalition Coordinator Jazlyn Gallego approached him. Reading his sign and learning that Mac was houseless, Jazlyn wondered if he was in need of voter ID. She handed him a card that included information on how VoteRiders could help him get one. […]

VoteRiders Fights Misinformation and Secures Family's IDs for Voting - and Living

A multiple sclerosis diagnosis, a job loss, an eviction, and a flood that destroyed most of their important documents – these are the calamities that forced Roger and Sandra, their son Evan, (names changed for privacy), and the couple’s younger children out of their southeast coastal Virginia home in 2016. To add to their woes, […]

ID Gives Virginian Access to Housing

As a 70-year-old living on the streets of Virginia, William’s only chance of escaping the relentless rain and bitter cold was to apply for housing assistance. To do that, he first needed an ID. Luckily, William got his ID with help from VoteRiders, but the many obstacles our dedicated and resourceful volunteer overcame to secure […]

Voter ID Story: Stephen and Mary Beth in Arizona

When Stephen and Mary Beth Wagner moved from Alabama to Chandler, Arizona, in the fall of 2020, they were not able to vote in the presidential election. “We actually haven’t been able to vote in several years due to moving from state to state for our work,” Stephen said recently. But now they’re ready for […]

Voter ID Story: Joan in Florida

Turned away at her polling place because of an expired ID in 2020, Joan Scott turned to VoteRiders recently for help getting an ID so she can vote in upcoming elections. “Freedom of speech is important to me,” Joan said, recalling how she felt when Florida poll workers sent her home because her ID had […]

Od’Juan Whitfield of Faith in Public Life takes a selfie with Dolly Canning and her new Florida ID card.

Jacksonville woman receives valid ID, can now receive life saving medical treatment

MARCH 25 – JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — See the inspiring follow-up to First Coast Florida’s story about Dorothy Canning, who VoteRiders helped navigate the Florida DMV to get her ID so she can continue receiving her life-saving medication.

“VoteRiders may have saved my life”

Dolly Canning found herself in an almost impossible situation. She needed a current state ID card to get a critical medical test to continue getting her prescription medication. But Dolly’s Florida ID card expired in 2017. And despite four trips to the local DMV office, she couldn’t get one because she didn’t have a vital […]

Voter ID Story: Laura in Georgia

Laura was staying at a women’s shelter in Columbus, Georgia when VoteRiders met her at our inaugural Voter ID Clinic sponsored by Aflac and hosted by Open Door. She needed to obtain a Georgia ID, not only so she could exercise her right to vote, but also to secure employment and housing. We were able […]

Voter ID Story: Carlos in Florida

Carlos reached out to VoteRiders when he relocated to Florida after earthquakes destroyed his home in Puerto Rico.

Voter ID Story: Mildred In Virginia

When Mildred reached out to VoteRiders for help, she couldn’t get a job and was worried about becoming homeless because she didn’t have an ID.

Voter ID Story: Montrell In Florida

I met Montrell as I was canvassing the streets of Downtown Orlando on a Sunday afternoon with our partner organizations, Bring It Home Florida and Global Shapers. I handed him a flyer and he asked for more information on VoteRiders. After hearing about our voter ID services, Montrell shared that he was eager to vote […]

Voter ID Story: Patricia In Florida

By Jazlyn Gallego, VoteRiders’ Florida Voter ID Coalition Coordinator By the time I met Patricia White at a voter education forum in New Smyrna Beach, she had been trying to obtain a state ID for 10 months. Since moving to Florida from Pennsylvania, she had been repeatedly turned away from the DMV. Like many married woman, Patricia’s […]

Steven’s Voter ID Story

January 2019 – CENTRAL FLORIDA – Steven is a veteran of the United States Army from Seminole County, Florida. He met our Florida Coordinator, Jazlyn Gallego, at a Goodwill Job Fair. Steven approached Jazlyn to ask if he was now able to vote without his felony history being a barrier because of the passage of Amendment 4. […]

Three IDs, No Vote: Lily’s Voter ID Story

September 2018 – ARIZONA – Lily (not her real name) fled Wyoming after a divorce from an abusive marriage. She moved to Arizona with an expired Wyoming driver’s license. Her birth certificate and Social Security card bear her maiden name, and her expired Wyoming license shows her married name. She took all three documents to the […]

Students And Voter ID In Florida: Daniel’s Voter ID Story

November 2018 – ORLANDO, FL – See video below! Daniel Molina is a senior at the University of Central Florida. He is an active and enthusiastic voter who recently interned for a local campaign. He met our Florida Coordinator Jazlyn Gallego at a university voting event. Daniel’s FL state ID was expired, and his UCF […]

More Than A Voter: Michael’s Voter ID Story

October 2018 – DELAND, FLORIDA – Michael Frank met VoteRiders at a Goodwill Job Connection Center Job Fair. He came ready with a social security card and birth certificate and asked if Jazlyn Gallego, our Florida Coordinator, could help him renew his expired ID to vote. Michael had previously registered to vote in New York […]

Adina’s Voter ID Story: Frustration At The Wisconsin DMV

– by Anita Johnson, VoteRiders’ Wisconsin Voter ID Coalition Coordinator Last month I had the opportunity to help a young voter obtain ID to vote in Milwaukee. The case illustrates some of the common obstacles and frustrations that voters, especially African-American, face when trying to secure their constitutional right to vote. Anita Abraham posted on […]

Valentine’s Gift From My Great-Grandfather

https://youtu.be/CZqRxUbsC8w Yvonne Moore shares the story of how her great-grandfather inspired her passion for democracy and voting rights. Yvonne Moore is the Principal Advisor at Moore Philanthropy. We are very grateful for the chance to share her story! Have you ever heard of a poll tax? This is a copy of my paternal great-grandfather’s poll tax […]

Genya's Voter ID Story

Genya (a.k.a @ElectionBabe on Twitter) is an election official in Florida, so how could SHE ever have a problem with voter ID? During a cross-country move in 2013, she lost her driver’s license. Even with an original California birth certificate, Social Security Card, expired passport, and bank statement with her new address, the Georgia DMV would not […]

Dennis’ Voter ID Story

Marine veteran Dennis Hatten was initially denied an ID to vote by the Wisconsin DMV office in Milwaukee because his birth certificate had a mistake. It took six months of persistence by VoteRiders’ Wisconsin Statewide Coordinator, Anita Johnson, before Dennis was finally able to vote. Anita met Dennis in September 2015 at the Vet’s Place, […]

Debra's Voter ID Story

Debra is a lifelong resident of Madison, WI and a lung cancer survivor. She lives in an apartment complex for low-income people with disabilities. She no longer drives, and had let her WI driver’s license expire. Debra didn’t realize that she would not be able to use her expired license to vote until she talked […]

Nefertiti's Voter ID Story

Nefertiti Helem and her partner, Ernest Barksdale, moved to Milwaukee from Chicago in 2013. Until VoteRiders and Citizen Action organizers visited their apartment complex for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, they didn’t realize that their Social Security cards or their Illinois IDs would not be valid for voting. Neither Ernest nor Nefertiti drive. Battling […]

Steve's Voter ID Story

Steve Pacewicz, a veteran, hasn’t had stable housing in a while. At times, his truck was his home. He needs his vehicle to do the odd jobs that he relies on for income. When he lost his Wisconsin driver’s license, he ordered a duplicate but the request was lost in the DMV system. Steve contacted […]

Alfonzo’s Voter ID Story

Shortly after his 18th birthday, Alfonzo went to a voter registration event at his Madison, Wisconsin high school and met VoteRiders’ National Campaign Coordinator. He was looking forward to voting for the first time, but did not have a valid photo ID. Traveling to the DMV to obtain his voter ID would likely be unproductive: […]

Matt And Jessica’s Voter ID Story

One Wisconsin family’s dilemma over voter ID from VoteRiders on Vimeo. Matt and Jessica Hegdahl moved to Wisconsin from Montana a few months before the Spring 2016 primary election. They registered to vote, but when they talked to VoteRiders at a local church, they found out that they could not use their valid MT driver’s licenses as ID at […]