Faces of the SAVE Act
These stories represent just a small sample of the tens of thousands of voters VoteRiders has helped secure vital documents.
Without extensive support, like that offered by VoteRiders, many citizens would not be able to overcome the financial, legal, and logistical challenges required to obtain these documents.
EDWARD, ALABAMA
Edward’s life began to spiral after he lost his job and his Alabama state ID was stolen after someone broke into his car. His situation worsened with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left Edward ineligible for government aid without proper identification. Edward faced bureaucratic hurdles and repeated rejections for nearly five years during his attempts to obtain a new ID.
NICOLE, ARIZONA
After Nicole’s grandmother passed away and their house foreclosed, Nicole packed her bags and moved to Arizona. In the process, she lost her birth certificate, which she needed to get an Arizona state ID. Nicole realized she needed an ID for many things, including voting in the upcoming election and securing health insurance. She ordered a new copy of her birth certificate online — but never received it. When she called to report it as lost, she was told she’d have to pay for a second one. Money was tight, and this wasn’t an option for Nicole. She started to panic. Her epilepsy medication was running low, and a general election was right around the corner.
JEMMIE, INDIANA
When Jemmie moved to Indiana a few years ago, she knew she needed to replace her Tennessee ID with an Indiana one. Like many states, Indiana now requires a birth certificate as part of the documentation necessary to get a state ID. Jemmie was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, so she requested a copy of her birth certificate through the Cincinnati Vital Records office. When the birth certificate arrived, Jemmie was shocked to discover that her first and middle names were spelled differently, and her last name was not “Weddington” but “Pepper.”
Even though all of 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.
LINDA, INDIANA
When Linda was told she couldn’t get an Indiana state ID until she submitted multiple marriage licenses and divorce decrees — one dating back to fifty years — she was floored. Like so many other Americans who change their name, Linda found herself taking on the role of a detective, stuck in a maze of bureaucracy and paperwork as she attempted to track down a paper trail of documents to prove how her last name had become “Dickerson.”
PRENTISS, NORTH CAROLINA
Prentiss had just packed up his life in Ohio and moved to North Carolina so he could join Roof Above’s SABER treatment program when he lost his wallet. Now, he had no state identification, which he was legally required to have to stay in treatment. He also needed a job, but without a state ID, no one would hire him. To get a new state ID, Prentiss would need a few things: his Social Security card, a copy of his birth certificate, transportation to get to his local ID-issuing office, and money to pay for all of these things. Prentiss had his Social Security card — but no other documents.
FANDREA, TEXAS
Fifty-one-year-old Fandrea lost Social Security cards and birth certificates for herself, her two daughters, and two grandchildren when the folder they were stored in was mistakenly thrown away at a Houston shelter. She knew she was in trouble. Fandrea needed a job, but with an expired driver’s license, no birth certificate, and no Social Security card, most employers would not hire her.
DENESHA, WISCONSIN
After a fire destroyed her home, Denesha and her family took shelter at the Milwaukee Salvation Army Emergency Lodge. There, she learned about a rapid re-housing facility that could help her secure stable housing — but there was a hurdle. Enrollment required birth certificate copies for herself and her son — documents that were destroyed in the fire and were too costly to be replaced. The financial strain, combined with navigating the complex system of replacing lost ID documents, left Denesha feeling overwhelmed and stuck.