When she requested a copy of her birth certificate and it arrived, Jemmie was shocked to discover that her first and middle names were spelled differently and her last name wasn’t “Weddington” but “Pepper”!
Even though all her other documents, including her Social Security card and her unexpired Tennessee ID, showed her name as Jemmie Weddington, the huge discrepancy between these documents and her birth certificate made it impossible for her to get her Indiana state ID.
Jemmie called the VoteRiders Helpline. I was paired with her to work one-on-one to solve this significant problem. My first try was to see if we could get help from the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, but they were overwhelmed and couldn’t help. A couple of weeks later, I learned that an amazing attorney in Florida was interested in helping VoteRiders with some pro bono work.
The lawyer, Antonia Iragorri-Berna, drafted an affidavit that Jemmie had to get notarized and submit to the Cincinnati Vital Records office requesting the change in the spelling of her first and middle names. Jemmie didn’t want to change her last name because “Pepper” was her father’s name and the last name of most of her close relatives. She told me she thinks her mother was so angry at her father after their divorce that she decided to give Jemmie her second husband’s last name without any formal paperwork.
Antonia filed the paperwork and then we waited. A month later, I got an email from Antonia that the spelling changes were complete and Jemmie could now order her birth certificate in Ohio.
We ordered it as soon as we could. A few weeks later, Jemmie texted me a beautiful picture and said “I’m a Pepper!”
I love working with people like Jemmie as a VoteRiders volunteer. Jemmie, and so many others, need someone to help them navigate confusing bureaucracy or just be a friendly face and advocate for them during a frustrating and dehumanizing process. Often, like in Jemmie’s case, we work together to solve problems creatively, connect the dots, and help voters feel heard.
If you’re good with people and love to solve problems, consider becoming a Voter ID Assistance volunteer. There’s an orientation coming up on January 21 — sign up and learn more!
