By Erin Carden
Justice-impacted people face major barriers getting ID after incarceration. VoteRiders partners with organizations to help these individuals secure ID for essential services, voting, and more.
More than 600,000 individuals are released from prison every year, and yet there are few state and zero federal systems in place to make sure they can get the fundamental documents they need to rejoin society and rebuild their lives.
“It can be really difficult [to get an ID] if you’re someone who doesn’t have family support, you don’t know where your birth certificate is, or maybe you never even had an ID before because you were just dealing with different things,” said Kerwin Pittman, Founder and Executive Director of Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services, in a conversation with VoteRiders.
According to our research, millions of Americans lack the identification they need to work, vote, obtain housing, access government benefits, receive life-saving medical care, and other essential services. Without a way to support themselves and their families, many individuals face limited options that can lead them back to incarceration.
“If I’m coming home after being incarcerated and I’ve become the main provider for my family, but I don’t have identification, now I have to work under the table, which ultimately may lead me back into the justice system,” said Kerwin. “So this is why it’s extremely important that returning citizens get their ID right away. “
Thanks to our incredible network of partner organizations across the country, we’re making sure communities of formerly incarcerated individuals have the essential documents they need to find employment, secure housing, and social services, participate in our democracy, and continue building their lives rooted in dignity and belonging.
Getting an ID can be complicated, costly, and time-consuming, so starting the process of getting one before being released from incarceration is key to successfully re-entering society. In Wisconsin, our State Director supports voter registration efforts at the Milwaukee County Jail by helping incarcerated voters obtain the necessary identification and documents (such as a birth certificate or Social Security card) they need to vote and prepare for their future.
Many states, however, do not have systems to equip individuals with necessary ID documents, so VoteRiders works with organizations focused on supporting voters who have already started the re-entry process. In North Carolina, we support Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services’ (RREPS) prevention programs and reentry services to help justice-impacted individuals make their voices heard in North Carolina and transition back into society successfully.
Recently, our North Carolina State Director, Jenny, joined RREPS’ newly launched Mobile Recidivism Reduction Center, a one-stop shop service center on wheels that travels to various communities within the state, offering vital resources to assist individuals reentering society after incarceration. RREPS reentry specialists connect individuals who visit the center with various direct service benefits, including Medicaid, employment and housing assistance, substance abuse treatment, mental health support, pro-bono legal aid, and now, free ID help from VoteRiders. Earlier this month, Jenny provided RREPS staff with comprehensive training on North Carolina’s voter ID requirements and how to best incorporate our free ID tools and services into their re-entry programming.
“Those returning from the carceral system who join RREPS do not have identification, the majority of the time, so it’s hard for them to do a lot.” Kerwin explained during last year’s conversation with our Digital Communications Coordinator. ”VoteRiders has been an awesome partner in helping individuals secure identification so they can participate in the electoral process and so much more.”
In North Carolina, Americans convicted of a felony can only regain their right to vote after they’ve completed their sentence, including probation and parole. So, in addition to direct ID assistance, Jenny also offers informational resources on how North Carolinians can restore their voting rights once their sentence is complete.
From Jay’s perspective, a formerly incarcerated North Carolina resident, the disenfranchisement of incarcerated Americans is a deliberate effort by lawmakers to stay in power and prevent true criminal justice reform in the United States.
“They try to stop people with backgrounds from voting because if everybody that got out of prison could vote, it would make a difference,“ he said. “They [formerly incarcerated voters] already know how it is [in prison], so they’re gonna vote for a person that’s gonna change the system.”
When Jay was released from prison in 2018, he had nothing. With no income and no ID, he could not apply for jobs or housing assistance. After two years of living with his girlfriend, he was connected with VoteRiders after speaking with an employee at North Carolina’s Vital Records Office. Jay called our Helpline (866-432-8683) and was quickly connected to Pamela Pearson, VoteRiders’ North Carolina Voter ID Coalition Director and Deputy General Counsel, who helped him track down and pay for his underlying documents and finally secure a new North Carolina State ID. With this barrier broken, Jay was able to secure a job as a FedEx driver and start saving for a new home.
“Pam got everything done,” Jay declared. “She was kind and offered words of encouragement. She told me she’s not giving up on me.“
Our on-the-ground work in communities across the country has taught us the importance of collaborating with individuals and organizations that are trusted experts on the needs and desires of the communities they serve. That’s why, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, our Pennsylvania State Director teamed up with formerly incarcerated individuals from Reimagine Reentry to canvass the historically Black neighborhood, known as the Hill District, to spread the word about our free ID services. Reimagine Reentry offers a range of professional, social, and mental health services to help individuals re-entering society find solutions to address the numerous challenges that can accompany reentry. Through our door-knocking campaign, Reimagine Reentry participants gained valuable canvassing experience while informing their community members about the transformative impact that VoteRiders’ resources can have on their daily lives.
Letter writing is another significant way we spread the word about our free ID tools and services. In Georgia, we partner with The Georgia Justice Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on the many challenges within our country’s criminal justice system and the hardships individuals often face when re-entering society. Last year, we partnered with The Georgia Justice Project to write to over 3,000 Georgians residing in neighborhoods with a high percentage of justice-impacted voters. Each letter contained critical information about the 2024 General Election, when justice-impacted residents can restore their voting rights, and Georgia’s voter ID requirements. We also let them know that if they didn’t have an ID or other identification documents, we could help them obtain those for free.
At VoteRiders, we have a robust network of national partners across the country who share information about our free services through their extensive network of connections and refer voters to us for assistance with obtaining a free ID.
Willie was one of those voters.
After thirty-two and a half years in prison, Willie finally had a chance to start over. After his release, he transitioned into reentry housing in Dayton, Ohio, and was assigned a case manager to assist him in finding employment and housing. But there was a big problem—Willie had no documentation to prove his identity. Without an ID, applying for jobs and housing wasn’t even an option.
After Willie’s case manager at Volunteers of America’s Re-Entry Division Program tried everything to help him get the ID he needed to get back on his feet after thirty-two and a half years in prison, they called VoteRiders’ Pam Pearson to step in and help get the job done.
First, Pam contacted Willie’s local Social Security office and helped him confirm his correct Social Security number, which was unknown to Willie, his case manager, and his probation officer. After his number was confirmed, the next step was to secure proof of identity through medical records, so he could apply for a Social Security card. With his medical records in hand, Pam ordered an Uber to take Willie from the medical clinic to the Social Security office, where he’d been several times before, with no success. Here, he completed an application for a replacement Social Security card.
This time, it worked.
Willie was told he would receive his official card in approximately two weeks and was given documentation that he could provide to confirm it was on its way. Since he already had his birth certificate, Pam told him that now all he needed to do was bring two pieces of mail to finally secure an Ohio state ID. Pam arranged for another Uber to take Willie from the Social Security office to his local Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), where he presented his various identifying documents for processing and registered to vote. Within a few minutes, Willie had officially reached the end of his harrowing journey to secure identification—he was finally handed his Ohio state ID.
“Big shoutout to Pam; she changed my life,” Willie exclaimed. “I’m just ecstatic. I can’t even put into words how I feel. It’s amazing that Pam, who is all the way in North Carolina, single-handedly got done in four days what other people couldn’t get done in three months.”
One of the most significant gifts Willie’s new Ohio ID has given him is the ability to trade in his prison identification.
“My new ID is kind of like my freedom papers,” he said. “After being locked up for thirty-two and a half years, having an ID that’s still a representation of that situation kept me in a certain place. But to be able to look at my ID now, I have the same ID as someone who has never even been to prison. Now, if I go somewhere and have to present my identification, I’m not automatically judged for being someone who has made mistakes. It gives me the confidence to know that I’m a citizen again. I’m a free citizen.“
With his new Ohio ID, Willie can officially start a new chapter, one that begins with a job, a safe and stable shelter, and the ability to use his voice to shape the political process around him. Change is on the horizon for Willie, and he believes change begins with voting.
“If you want to change, if you believe that there is the ability to change, you have to move, you have to vote, you have to get out,” he explained. ”I want to vote in every election. I don’t care if they’re just voting on who’s going to be the county librarian; I’m voting.“
If you or someone you know needs ID information or assistance, call or text our helpline at 866-432-8643 or visit VoteRiders.org/help to learn more about how we can help. For more information on how we can work together to support and empower voters in your community, visit VoteRiders.org/partner.
Erin is VoteRiders’ Digital Communications Coordinator.
April 22, 2025.
