VoteRiders

VoteRiders is a non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their right to vote.^[1][2][3] Through resources and media exposure, VoteRiders supports on-the-ground organizations that assist citizens to secure their voter IDs and inspires local volunteers and communities to sustain such programs and galvanize others to emulate these efforts.^[4]

VoteRiders has developed printable wallet cards that summarize each state's voting requirements in English and Spanish, which are available on its website. They also established a toll free hotline (844-338-8743) that citizens can call for Voter ID information and assistance.^[5]

It was founded in 2012 by Kathleen Unger,^[6] an election integrity specialist since 2002,^[7] and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.^[8] Dedicated to ensuring that eligible American citizens can vote, VoteRiders focuses specifically on helping vulnerable voters to obtain the documents required for their state's voter ID.^[9]

VoteRiders, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, has been featured extensively in local,^[10][11] national^[12][13][14] and international^[15][16] media in connection with Voter ID issues.^[17][18] And VoteRiders' CEO Kathleen Unger has been asked to speak on Voter ID issues at colleges and universities such as Pepperdine^[19][20] and Occidental College.^[21]

VoteRiders on the Ground

VoteRiders helps civic engagement, other entities and voters in 15 target states (AL, AZ, FL, GA, IN, KS, MS, NC, ND, NH, RI, SC, TN, TX and VA) that require government-issued voter IDs.

Some of VoteRiders’ on the ground efforts include:

Texas

In response to a 2012 Justice Department report that some 1.4 million Texans would be affected by the Texas Voter ID Law,^[22] VoteRiders hosted its first Voter ID Clinic in Houston on September 21, 2013,^[23] and in May 2014 brought Marianela Acuña Arreaza on board as Texas Coordinator.^[24][25] "VoteRiders also reached out to elected officials on the Federal, State and Local levels in Harris County and contacted precinct chairs for both the Republican and Democratic parties. Tables filled with information on the new law were set up at church services and other public gatherings. Partner Organizations hosted presentations to explain the new law to the public. Volunteers were trained for voter outreach. It was a first step toward VoteRiders' ultimate goal: a nationwide network of Partner Organizations and volunteers dedicated to helping eligible citizens get the documents they need to vote."^[26]

Wisconsin

It is estimated that approximately 600,000 (18%) of registered Wisconsin voters in 2016 were negatively impacted by the State’s newly-enforced Voter ID law.^[27] This is composed of more than 300,000 registered voters who did not have an acceptable voter photo ID^[28][29][30] and an additional 300,000 voters who were confused and intimidated by the State’s Voter ID law even though they did, in fact, have the correct ID to vote.^[31] This reality motivated VoteRiders to launch the nation’s first ever “Voter ID Month,” which took place in Wisconsin in March 2016.^[32][33]VoteRiders efforts in Wisconsin were spearheaded by Molly McGrath, National Campaign Coordinator,^[34][35][36] and Anita Johnson, Wisconsin Statewide Coordinator,^[37] who worked with the organization’s partners in the Dane County Voter ID Coalition. Reporting directly to CEO Kathleen Unger, their efforts included training volunteers throughout Dane County,^[38] registering thousands of voters to make sure they have valid (1) ID and if not, (2) documents to get voter ID, and arranging transportation to the DMV, oftentimes with a member of VoteRiders’ team to assist.^{[39] [40][41]}Activities were focused especially on low-income and transient voters^[42] (including young professionals) by way of events and presentations with voters at churches, colleges, high schools, libraries,^[43] homeless shelters, food pantries, job centers, education centers, apartment buildings and corporations, etc. in downtown Madison and throughout the county.^[44][45] Examples include: phone banks, University of Wisconsin-Madison (14,000 out-of-state students) “Get It Free with Your Voter ID” pizza parties; t-shirts with “Ask Me” (front) and “About Voter ID” (back).^[46][47][48]On March 2, 2016, VoteRiders conducted a Press Conference at the Capitol^[49][50] that resulted in huge press reportage, including coverage by all TV network affiliates.^{[51] [52]} VoteRiders was pivotal to the WI legislature's and governor's expanding approved voter IDs to include a Veterans Affairs card in just-enacted legislation. Based on the results of the Voter ID Month, VoteRiders will create and distribute a toolkit to other communities in Wisconsin and across the country.^[53]

Supporters

• Foundation Supporters
  • Newman's Own Foundation
  • Project VOTE
• Corporate Supporters
  • AerioConnect
  • Dailey Advertising and Tom Lehr

VoteRiders Coalition

• Organizations
  • America Votes
  • Common Cause Texas
  • Fair Elections Legal Network
  • People for the American Way Foundation
  • Rock the Vote
  • Student Debt Crisis
• Individuals
  • Donald Saunders

VoteRiders Partner Organizations

National Partner Organizations

• Election Protection
  • The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is the lead partner of the non-partisan Election Protection Coalition, of which VoteRiders is also a partner. It was formed to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. The coalition features the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866ourvote.org), administered by the Lawyers' Committee, and 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota (http://veyvota.yaeshora.info/), administered by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Education Fund. These and other coalition resources provide comprehensive voter information and advice on how citizens can make sure their vote is counted. Other coalition partners with which VoteRiders is working include: Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, and Fair Elections Legal Network.
  • Project VOTE
    • Project VOTE works to build an electorate that accurately represents the diversity of this nation's citizenry, and to ensure that every eligible citizen can register, vote, and cast a ballot that counts.

National Collaborating Organizations

• Advancement Project
• American Association of People with Disabilities
• Athletes for Impact
• Common Cause
• ElectionRAVE
• MALDEF
• Mi Familia Vota
• Movement2016
• National Urban League
• NextGen Climate
• Nonprofit VOTE
• People for the American Way
• Rock the Vote
• State Voices
• Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice in the National Capital Region
• United Steelworkers International
• Young Invincibles

State Partner Organizations

• Mississippi
  • Mississippi Civil Rights Martyrs Annual Memorial Service and Conference Committee: VoteRiders provided a Voter ID Questionnaire and Voter Advocate Guide for the 50th Annual Mississippi Civil Rights Martyrs Memorial Service, Caravan, Conference and March for Justice in June 2014 in Neshoba County, Mississippi.
• New Hampshire
  • America Votes - New Hampshire
• North Carolina
  • North Carolina State Board of Elections: the state agency charged with overall responsibility for administration of the elections process and campaign finance disclosure in North Carolina. The office of the State Board of Elections works in conjunction with County Board of Elections offices to ensure that elections are conducted lawfully and fairly.
• Pennsylvania
  • Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership: a growing coalition of over 420 nonprofit organizations from a 10-county region in southwestern Pennsylvania
• Texas
  • Legacy Community Health Services: a full-service, Federally Qualified Health Center for under-served Houstonians
  • Mi Familia Vota Education Fund Texas: promotes civic engagement in the Latino community
  • Operation ID: helps under-served Houstonians to obtain a photo ID and/or birth certificate
  • Student Government Association, University of Houston: works to improve and enhance the quality of the student experience
  • Texas Freedom Network Education Fund: supports research and education on social policy issues
  • Texans Together Education Fund: works across the Greater Houston Area to empower leaders in communities and promote civic engagement
  • Young Invincibles: conducts cutting-edge policy research about young adults and designs campaigns to educate on important issue areas
    • Others with whom VoteRiders is collaborating in Texas:
      • Campaign Legal Center
      • Common Cause Texas
      • Harris County AFL-CIO
      • Holy Name Catholic Church
      • Houston Food Bank
      • Houston Housing Authority
      • Houston Peace and Justice Center
      • League of Women Voters Houston
      • Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston METRO)
      • National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)
      • Neighborhood Centers Inc.
      • S.H.A.P.E. Community Center
      • Star of Hope
      • St. John's United Methodist Church - Downtown
      • St. Patrick's Catholic Church
      • Texas Campaign for the Environment
      • Texas Organizing Project Education Fund
      • Texas Southern University
      • Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
• Wisconsin
  • African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable: exists to improve the quality of life for Wisconsin’s African-American community through issue-based organizing.
  • Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is committed to achieving a Wisconsin which embraces the full agency of our democracy.
  • Dane County Voter ID Coalition: educates voters about the requirement to show a voter photo ID to receive a ballot on Election Day or when voting absentee.
  • League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County: conducts nonpartisan voter service and citizen education activities.
  • NAACP Milwaukee Branch: mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
  • Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin: mission is to empower all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health through patient services, education and advocacy.
  • Wisconsin Voices: a network of over 60 nonpartisan civic engagement organizations that leverage their collective power to mobilize and empower people to strengthen Wisconsin's democracy for everyone.
    • Others with whom VoteRiders is collaborating in Wisconsin:
      • Center for Veterans Issues
      • Christ Church Milwaukee
      • Common Cause in Wisconsin
      • Dryhootch
      • Guest House of Milwaukee
      • Incarnation Church
      • Literacy Services of WI
      • League of Women Voters of Dane County
      • Metropolitan Church
      • Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative
      • NAACP Dane County Branch
      • Porchlight
      • Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton
      • Society's Assets
      • St. Marks Church
      • South Central Federation of Labor
      • Urban League of Greater Madison
      • Veterans for Peace
      • VETS Place Central
      • YWCA Madison

References