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Friend,

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 abouthow 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 havethe 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!
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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:

* 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.
* 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.
* More partner organizations ordered Voter ID Information Cards
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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.
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Get free help: If you or anyone you know needs free help getting the ID they
need to vote, VoteRiders can help.
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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!
* 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.
* 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.
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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 whywe 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 anadditional
$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.
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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 onesmost 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 + Executive Director
VoteRiders

DONATE
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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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VoteRiders,