Dear John, 

Next week, Ohio voters will go to the polls to vote in the primary election. Annette Pereira will be one of them, thanks to the persistence of VoteRiders volunteers.

Last year, Ohio enacted a strict voter ID law and since Annette didn’t have a current Ohio photo ID, she wouldn’t be able to vote. There were other barriers she faced because she didn’t have a photo ID: “I couldn’t get government assistance or go to the doctor,” she said. 

To secure identification, Annette first needed a copy of her New York City birth certificate and a Social Security card, neither of which she had. 

Annette Pereira

Luckily, Annette walked into a local community center and learned about VoteRiders. “The community center was giving out clothes, food, all kinds of stuff,” said Annette. A VoteRiders volunteer was also there to offer free voter ID information and assistance.

VoteRiders volunteers jumped into action. A pro bono lawyer worked with her to confirm her identity and apply for a copy of her New York City birth certificate. VoteRiders arranged for a free Uber to take Annette to and from the Social Security Office to get her Social Security card. VoteRiders also helped Annette schedule her Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) appointment and the Uber rides to get her there and back. Another VoteRiders volunteer will be with her at the BMV appointment to make sure everything runs smoothly.

As you can see, it can be a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive process to secure the necessary paperwork, appointments, and transportation to get an ID. VoteRiders volunteers help people through a challenging process, sometimes over the course of months.

If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering to help voters one-on-one to secure their ID, our next Voter ID Assistance Orientation is March 26.

Annette is looking forward to voting next week with her new Ohio ID. “I’ll vote to give my opinion,” she said.

Sincerely,

Erin Carden
Digital Communications Coordinator
VoteRiders

P.S. VoteRiders believes that money should never be a barrier to voting. That’s why we always cover the costs associated with getting a voter ID: application fees, document fees, and transportation. Will you chip in to help people like Annette get their ID?

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VoteRiders is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit organization registered in the US under EIN 45-5081831.

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171 Pier Avenue #313
Santa Monica, CA 90405
United States 

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