Take action now and spread the word: VoteRiders helps Wisconsinites overcome voting barriers

By Erik Reinthaler
WJI InternAlthough for many eligible Wisconsin voters bringing photo identification to the polls is simply another step in the voting process, for others, obtaining the identification now required by law can be a significant obstacle to casting a ballot.VoteRiders is a valuable resource for overcoming that barrier. Spread the word.

The VoteRiders nonprofit provides free, one-on-one assistance to eligible voters who need help obtaining identification or supporting documents. Wisconsin is one of the organization’s eight priority states because of its long-standing voter ID law.

Assistance includes helping people navigate the necessary processes, getting them rides to where they need to go, and even paying for government documents.

Every voter’s situation is different, and VoteRiders tailors its assistance accordingly. “We provide 100% free resources to people in order to get their ID or other underlying documents, like a birth certificate or Social Security card, cover transportation by getting them round-trip rides through rideshares, things like that,” Wisconsin State Director Jake Spence told Wisconsin Justice Initiative in a recent interview.

Spence works with voters facing ID obstacles every day.

One of the biggest misconceptions, Spence told WJI, is that obtaining an acceptable voter ID is straightforward. In reality, replacing identification can become far more complicated than many people expect.

For example, Spence said, ordinary life events can suddenly leave eligible voters without the identification they need. “We’ve had flooding in Milwaukee, and people are like, ‘Oh yeah, I lost my birth certificate in the flood. I just moved to a new place like six months before the flood and hadn’t updated my ID yet, so my ID no longer has my current address.'”

Replacing lost identification often brings unexpected costs. “IDs don’t grow on trees, so they do have to get paid for,” he said.

“The voters don’t pay anything…We will take care of all those costs,” Spence said.

“Folks think, ‘Oh, I lost my ID. It’s not a big deal. I can afford that.’ But not everybody is in the same situation, and then when you couple that fact with the fact that we have this voter ID law, I mean, very clearly, some people are being pushed aside and are unable to cast a ballot, even if they want to, because they may be facing these monetary barriers or these bureaucratic barriers.”

Those are precisely the hurdles VoteRiders aims to eliminate.

The burden falls unevenly

Although anyone can lose an ID, Spence said the burden of replacing one is not shared equally.

According to a national survey fielded in the fall of 2023 by VoteRiders, in partnership with the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland, the Brennan Center for Justice, and Public Wise, an estimated 34.5 million voting-age U.S. citizens either lack a driver’s license or state-issued ID, or they have one that does not reflect their current name or address.

The survey also found that communities of color are disproportionately affected by these barriers.

Although comparable Wisconsin estimates are unavailable, Spence said he sees the same patterns across the state. “It tends to be a lot of the marginalized communities,” he said.

Those communities include Black and brown voters, Indigenous voters, young voters, students, voters with disabilities, newly naturalized citizens, and transgender and nonbinary voters.

He said name changes, disabilities, and other individual circumstances can create additional challenges to securing acceptable voter identification.

Students face unique obstacles because not every Wisconsin college issues student IDs that automatically satisfy the state’s voting requirements.

“Some of our largest institutions like UW–Madison don’t offer that as the regular ID,” Spence said. “A lot of places will allow you to get that voting-compliant ID … but students are unaware of that information.”

Spence said that ID barriers disproportionately affect younger voters, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 29. He believes a lack of public awareness is one of the biggest reasons why. “These things aren’t really taught to people. They’re not taught in schools. And so, every year there’s new people turning 18 and becoming new voters that just don’t know, don’t understand.”

Even when voters understand what they need, obtaining the necessary documents can still be difficult. Spence said the biggest barriers are often not the cost of replacement documents themselves but the transportation expenses and bureaucratic hurdles involved in obtaining them.

“I think it’s, again, really easy for folks to think, ‘Okay, this isn’t such a big deal. But when you break it down to a person-by-person level, people have all kinds of stuff going on in their lives,” he said.

People experiencing homelessness often face those challenges even more acutely.

“I’ve seen a lot of folks in homeless shelters. And unfortunately, those aren’t always the most secure places,” Spence told WJI. “I’ve heard a lot of people talking about, ‘Okay, somebody went into my wallet and stole my ID or stole my Social Security card, things like that.’ And that’s just something that some folks are exposed to and have more risk around than other people.”

Much of VoteRiders’ work happens through partnerships with homeless shelters, schools, community organizations, and nonprofits across Wisconsin. Rather than expecting voters to travel to VoteRiders, the organization tries to take its resources to places more convenient for the people who need the help.

Removing the barriers

Spence urges voters to call or text VoteRiders’ helpline (866-432-8683) or visit voteriders.org as soon as they realize they may not have acceptable identification. VoteRiders staff determine what documents or assistance each voter needs and guide them through the process.

Some voters can resolve the issue in minutes with VoteRiders’ help. “Let’s say it’s a situation where somebody lost their ID and they just need a renewal. I can go online on DMV’s website, get that taken care of, get you that printout receipt that has the picture of the ID on it that says this must be accepted for voting purposes, and I can print that out for you in five minutes also.”

Other voters may wait weeks for replacement documents from another state. While organizations like VoteRiders can help voters navigate the process, Spence said the best time to make sure everything is in order is well before Election Day.

“As soon as you’re starting to think about, ‘Oh, there’s an election coming up,’ start thinking about the ID. It’s never too soon.”

Not everyone who contacts VoteRiders is planning to vote, and that is okay. People can still use the nonprofit’s expertise. Many people first seek help because they need government-issued identification to obtain housing or access other services.

“I work with people who’ve told me, ‘I don’t plan to vote. I don’t care, but I need this ID to get into this housing program,’” Spence said.  “We will help you today.”

Often, helping one person leads others to seek assistance as well.

One woman Spence met at a Milwaukee shelter called about a month after receiving help obtaining an ID. She said her son needed an ID as well and wondered whether VoteRiders could help him. “Absolutely, sure, let’s get connected,” Spence said. A few months later she called again, saying her brother-in-law and his son needed help as well.

“You can see the ripple effect of, you know, helping one person actually led them to remember the help we provided, to talk to other people, to ask them if they had the ID that they needed. And that was just such a perfect story to hear,” Spence said.

Preparing before election day

Spence encourages Wisconsin voters to check their registration before every election, particularly if they recently moved or have not voted in some time. He recommended using MyVote.wi.gov to verify registration, request an absentee ballot, view upcoming ballot information, and find the polling place.

He encourages readers to check whether friends and family have the identification they need and to let them know that VoteRiders provides free help.

Notwithstanding Wisconsin’s voter ID law, many of the barriers voters face can be overcome with enough time and assistance, Spence said.

For anyone who believes obtaining an acceptable voter ID is out of reach, Spence offered a simple message: “We’re here to support you. We believe in you. We want to make sure that your voice is heard. This democracy only works if everybody is participating.”