Dear John,

When Denise Ellis moved to Columbus, Georgia, in 2021, she knew she’d need a new driver’s license if she wanted to vote in the state.

Unfortunately, her experience at the DMV reflects the bureaucratic and costly maze that traps so many Americans who need a current ID to vote, secure housing, apply for jobs, and so much more.

“I had been to the DMV three times already and had been turned away,” Denise explained. “They wanted everything. Birth certificate, motor vehicle report, divorce certificate. Everything had a fee, but I didn’t have a job, so I couldn’t afford to pay those fees. If you’re a poor person, you can’t navigate through that.“

READ DENISE'S STORY >> [link removed]

Denise was close to giving up hope when I met her at a Muscogee County Board of Elections meeting. As we spoke, Denise mentioned how hard it had been for her to secure a new Georgia driver’s license. Well, that’s literally what VoteRiders does day in and day out — so I gave her my card and asked her to give me a call.

I was able to help Denise track down the various documentation she needed to prove her identity, and VoteRiders covered all the fees. I also accompanied Denise to the DMV, which she found to be especially helpful.

“Having support at the DMV was the biggest part because I was traumatized from being there so many times,” she explained.

After submitting the required documentation Denise finally received her new Georgia driver’s license, which she can now use to apply for employment, access social service programs, travel, and vote.

“You need an ID to live,” Denise concluded. “I have everything I need now.”

Read more about Denise and her story about the challenges of getting a voter ID. >> [link removed]

I’m proud to work for VoteRiders, where we help people like Denise every day with the painstaking, bureaucratic work it takes to make sure every eligible voter has an acceptable form of ID. You can help: chip in what you can so we can continue to cover all the fees and transportation costs associated with the lengthy process of getting an ID. >> [link removed]

Sincerely,

Monica Spencer
Georgia Organizer
VoteRiders

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