Dear John,
The “traditional” general election season heats up after Labor Day, but this year has been anything but traditional. So, as we sprint toward Election Day, I wanted to write to you with a more detailed briefing about how VoteRiders is stepping up to support our democracy during this incredibly exciting and unexpected election season.
This email will be a little longer than what I usually write to you but I want you to have the full picture of all the ways VoteRiders is stepping up to support voters in 2024.
A Surge of New Voters
Ever since late July, there’s been a huge jump in voter registrations. More than 100,000 people registered to vote via Vote.org in just five days after Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Eighty four percent of those newly registered voters are young (18 percent of that total are 18 years old). Young and first-time voters are among the most likely to be turned away at the polls because they don’t have an ID — and that’s where VoteRiders comes in.
📣 Take Action → If you’re not registered to vote, there’s still time!
A Surge in the Need to Help Voters
The record-breaking number of new voter registrations is an encouraging sign that the electorate is becoming broader and more diverse. But it also amplifies the need for VoteRiders’ ID-focused work. In the 38 states with voter ID laws, registering to vote is not enough. Voters must do an ID check to make sure they have an accepted form of ID, and take steps to secure one if they don’t.
Even in states without voter ID laws, the confusion and misinformation around whether or not voters need an ID can keep some voters at home, afraid of being embarrassed or turned away.
VoteRiders has supercharged our voter ID education efforts and free ID help to meet this fresh wave of voter enthusiasm:
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We’ve already reached 4 million voters in 2024, and 10 million total for the 2024 election cycle (2023 and 2024). We’re not slowing down — we still plan to reach at least 4 million more voters before November 5.
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Calls, texts, and chat messages to VoteRiders’ Helpline are way up. We saw a 27 percent jump in messages to our Voter ID Helpline in July over June. We’ve already answered more inquiries in 2024 than in any previous year.
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More partner organizations ordered Voter ID Information Cards in the last 10 days of July than in any other period of 2024. Between July and today, more than 200 partner organizations from across the country have ordered more than 450,000 Voter ID Information Cards to distribute as part of their voter outreach efforts. Each wallet-sized card explains whether people need ID to vote and what form is accepted, and lists VoteRiders’ contact information if voters need help securing ID.
Securing a voter ID can sometimes be a long and difficult process. That’s why it’s critical we reach new voters now, so they have time to secure an ID if they need one. Our staff in eight battleground states and volunteers from across the country have been putting in very long hours in the past five weeks to keep up with the surge in demand for our services.
📣 Take Action →
Do an ID check: Share our up-to-date information on every state’s voter ID requirements.
Get free help: If you or anyone you know needs free help getting the ID they need to vote, VoteRiders can help.
A Surge in Volunteers
Luckily, VoteRiders’ supporters have stepped up to help in a big way! We have seen an incredible and inspiring surge in volunteers in the past month.
- In late July and early August, VoteRiders’ textbanks broke successive records for sign ups. More than 900 volunteers signed up to attend our August 15 textbank to Florida voters!
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Volunteers sent more than 1 million text messages to voters in July alone, on top of writing 50,000 letters to voters and making 20,000 phone calls to voters. Each text message, letter, and phone call delivers critical information about voter ID requirements for voters who are the most at-risk of not knowing the rules or not having the right ID.
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We currently have the highest-ever number of active Voter ID Assistance volunteers, who help voters one-on-one manage the difficult and bureaucratic process of securing their voter ID. Voter ID Assistance volunteers work with voters to make appointments, handle transportation, and cover fees to get their ID and any underlying documents that might be required to get that ID (like birth certificates or Social Security cards).
📣 Take Action → Volunteer with VoteRiders! Sign up for any or all of our upcoming opportunities.
A Surge in Grassroots Donors
As our voter outreach efforts increase, so does our budget. It takes a lot of staff time and resources to reach millions of voters — luckily, we’ve seen a surge in individual donations to match the growing enthusiasm and need for our services!
VoteRiders believes that cost should never be a barrier to the right to vote. That’s why we always cover the costs associated with getting a voter ID (like transportation, securing underlying documents, and fees for the ID itself).
In addition, reaching millions of voters through digital and in-person outreach costs a lot — for text messages, digital ads, staff time, and more. To reach all the newly registered voters, we estimate we’ll need an additional $500,000 we didn’t budget for. Every dollar helps us reach more voters.
📣 Take Action → Make a donation to VoteRiders to support our voter outreach and assistance efforts! Better yet, set up a monthly recurring donation between now and Election Day.
So Much At Stake
All this enthusiasm is exciting, but it underscores the essential need for VoteRiders’ work. The segments of the electorate that are registering in record numbers — young voters (18-year-olds in particular), student voters, and voters of color — are the same ones most likely to be disenfranchised by voter ID laws.
The stakes are high this election year, and it’s critical that every voter be able to participate. With your support, we’ll continue to meet the surge in demand for our services and help millions of people vote this November!
Onward,
Lauren Kunis
CEO and Executive Director
VoteRiders
