In Pennsylvania, 93-year-old Viviette Applewhite may not be able to vote this fall after she lost her driver’s license and social security card when her purse was stolen a few years ago. She never had a birth certificate. A joined a lawsuit filed by the NAACP and the ACLU against the voter ID law because the new law will disenfranchise her unless she can get the documents she needs – a birth certificate and social security card – to obtain her free voter ID from the state. She has since received her birth certificate but still has not been able to obtain a new social security card.
AARP; July, 9th, 2012
Working to remove barriers to voting and improve election administration across the United States.
Kevin Humphreys, a 51-year-old unemployed Republican voter from Haverford, PA without a driver’s license, upon hearing about Pennsylvania’s new voter ID in April, began the process of acquiring a free voter ID. He requested the necessary forms from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) but was mailed the wrong form, but he filled it out anyway. After a month of no response from PennDOT, Humphreys called to only be told they never received his paperwork. PennDOT then mailed him more incorrect paperwork. A few weeks later after finally receiving and filling out the correct forms, he received a letter stating he had to pay $13.50 for the forms to be processed, despite a voter ID being free. A day later after calling and being forwarded to different PennDOT offices and employees, he received a call from a local employee who apologized and said they found his original paperwork and that his ID would be free. It took Humpherys three months in order to obtain the ID he needs to vote in November.
Delaware County Times; July 15th, 2012
Despite providing a baptism certificate, a Social Security card, a checkbook, and a Medicare statement, 84-year-old Ruthelle Frank of Brokaw, WI was told she would need to produce a birth certificate to verify her citizenship before she could get a voter ID; the problem? Ruthelle was never given one; her birth was only recorded by her mother in the family bible and the state Register of Deeds. She’s been told that a birth certificate can be produced for her, but it would likely cost her $20. Ruthelle has been able to vote in almost every other election in her lifetime, without a birth certificate or a $20 fee.
Wausau Daily Herald; December 5, 2011
It took a call to a congressman to get Al Star, a homeless man in Nashville, his voter ID. When Star went to the Department of Safety’s office to request the free ID, he was told he needed to renew his driver’s license for $12, even though he no longer had a car. Eventually, a staff member for U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper needed to go in person to the Department of Safety office to convince the clerk to give Mr. Star his ID.
The Tennessean; December 1, 2011
Tennessee residents Lee and Phyllis Campbell recently found themselves at a local DMV to obtain a free voter ID for Phyllis. After requesting one, the DMV worker sighed and said it was “too much paperwork” and they should just pay to have her license renewed with a photo. While they were eventually able to get a free ID, the process was so arduous and painstaking, that they were asked to come to D.C. to testify at a congressional hearing about new voting laws and whether or not they erected barriers to voters.
Daily News Journal; November 3, 2011
A Florida schoolteacher, Jill Cicciarelli, was recently threatened with fines for failing to meet the requirements of a new Florida law when registering her students to vote. The law requires, among other things, for third party groups to register with the state before assisting anyone with voter registration, and turn in all received applications within 24 hours. Cicciarelli, who has been registering her students in an annual drive for years, was on maternity leave when the law took effect. She’s not alone, as of the end of October 2011; the Florida government was “investigating” another teacher who may have violated the new law simply by registering her students.
The Florida Independent; October 31, 2011
Darwin Spinks, a World War II and Korean War veteran was made to pay $8 for a photo ID he was told would be free. When he went to get his free ID, none of the staff he interacted with explained to him the requirements for a free ID, which include a signed affidavit saying that the individual has no other valid forms of government issued photo identification. Spinks was not given this affidavit, and the state says that once he submits one, his $8 will be refunded.
The Daily News Journal; October 26, 2011
91-year-old Virginia Lasater was physically unable to stand in line to get the photo ID a new Tennessee law requires her to have in order to vote. The law means that over 100,000 voters in the state will need to obtain drivers licenses before the next election, and so the line for photo IDs was so long when Ms. Lasater, who uses a cane, arrived at her DMV that she was unable to obtain hers without risking injury.
Associated Press; October 21, 2011