VoteRiders Reached Upwards of 5.3 Million Voters With ID Info & Free Help Offers in 2023
BY ERIN CARDEN, DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, VOTERIDERS, DECEMBER 12, 2023
Democracy doesn’t have “off years,” and neither does VoteRiders. To have the greatest possible impact in the 2024 presidential race, we knew we had to do everything we could in 2023 to make sure voters got the ID they needed to cast a ballot this year, next year, and every year after that.
Right now, 52 million more Americans live in a voter ID state than in 2012, with 17 states having passed new or stricter voter identification laws since 2020.
In 2023 alone, eight states saw new voter ID legislation pass or go into effect. Today, a total of 38 states have voter ID laws in place, and this number could climb even higher in 2024.
In response to confusing, complicated, and costly restrictions to the ballot box, VoteRiders is fighting back with free, direct voter ID help to all voters. And our impact this year has been tremendous. The VoteRiders team — including our staff in eight states, partner organizations, volunteers, donors, and supporters — helped us reach 5.3 MILLION voters and counting in 2023 alone.
The magnitude of our reach is a testament to the power of our partnerships and the dedication of the volunteers, supporters, and voters who continue to stand alongside us in our fight for a more equitable, inclusive, and representative democracy.
Voter ID laws are exploding across the country, and VoteRiders is quickly scaling our presence in key states to meet the challenges of the moment. Earlier this year, we put more boots on the ground in North Carolina after its 2018 voter ID law was reinstated, and we built a brand new on-the-ground Ohio coalition after the state passed one of the strictest voter identification laws in the country.
As voter ID laws rise, one thing is for certain: the need for our work is more important now than ever before. As reported in Newsweek, the number of voters who reached out to our free Helpline for voter ID information and assistance increased by 287 percent this year compared to 2021.
In collaboration with our ever-growing community of democracy defenders, VoteRiders is pushing back against the onslaught of voter ID laws. Not only are we ensuring that every voter has the information and identification they need to cast a ballot, but we’re also making sure more Americans are brought into the voting process.
This year, we helped over 5,000 voters obtain the ID and underlying documents they needed to register and vote — many for the first time! For countless voters like Fandrea in Texas, Alexander in North Carolina, and Denise in Georgia, these identifications helped them secure more stable housing or employment opportunities as well.
Partner organizations and our field staff distributed over 580,000 Voter ID Information cards in English and Spanish to ensure voters knew what they needed to bring to the polls and how to contact us if they needed help.
Volunteers contacted 4.5 million voters (and counting!) with handwritten letters, phone calls, and text messages to remind folks about their state’s upcoming elections and what kind of identification they would need to cast a ballot.
With 2024 around the corner, we’re gearing up for the most important election of our lifetimes. We worked around the clock this year to make sure voters are 100 percent prepared to cast a ballot with ease in every election – and we’ll be powering through every day through November 5, 2024, and beyond.
Our goal is to reach at least 10 million voters with the voter ID info and help they need before Election Day next year.
Each and every one of us has a role to play in building a more inclusive and accessible democracy. We hope you’ll join us!
