Voter ID Story: Mildred In Virginia

Mildred had applied for a new ID in Virginia and was told she would need a birth certificate to complete the process.

Mildred never received an official birth certificate from the state of North Carolina when she was born in 1960.

She started gathering all the documents she would need to secure a delayed birth certificate but did not have the funds to complete the application. VoteRiders covered these costs. 

Mildred submitted her marriage license, divorce decree, high school records, and her child’s birth certificate to the Clerk of Superior Court in Windsor, NC.

Two weeks later, the Clerk responded that they could not approve Mildred’s request for a delayed birth certificate because she did not have enough supporting documents.

Frustrated but determined to get her ID, Mildred worked with VoteRiders to determine next steps. We reached out to the court directly on her behalf and learned Mildred needed to either:

1. Provide an affidavit of “personal knowledge,” which wasn’t possible because both of her parents have passed.
2. Request a “Numident Record” from the Social Security Administration to prove that she had a Social Security number/card. This process could take at least 30 days and would cost $32.
3. Go through the court system to receive a delayed birth certificate. This route would undoubtedly take the longest amount of time.

Mildred requested a Numident Record from the Social Security Administration. This required an additional $32 payment, bringing the total costs of Mildred’s documents to $85.

She is now waiting for the Social Security Administration to process the record and provide her new Social Security card. Originally estimated to take 4 to 6 weeks, Mildred’s wait was delayed due to slower processing during the holiday season. VoteRiders has connected her with one of our partners in the area to make sure she doesn’t lose housing in the meantime.

Once Mildred receives her Social Security card, she will be able to obtain her birth certificate from North Carolina. That process can take about a month. And then, finally, Mildred will be able to obtain her ID. An ID that will allow her to secure a job, a stable place to live, and the ability to exercise her right to vote.

VoteRiders is committed to helping Mildred – and millions of voters like her – obtain the ID she needs. Sign up to stay updated on her progress and how you can get involved.