Opportunities

Opportunity: Research Project

Position Description: Although VoteRiders’ mission is laser-focused on ensuring that all eligible voters have the ID they need to cast a ballot that counts, it’s common for the people we’ve assisted to come back to us with other requests for help, ones which are outside our scope of expertise. Examples include:

• Housing assistance

• Employment

• Food stamps and other social services

• ID or other assistance for people who are not citizens

• Re-entry services

• And so much more!

While we understand that we’re a trusted resource when we’ve helped voters get their ID, we also need to keep our time and energies focused on our mission. Our goal is to have an accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive list of community resources to which we can refer people when they need help that we can’t or don’t provide. We have begun to compile these resources for certain communities, but some of the lists are old and all of them are incomplete. 

We need volunteers to do the in-depth research necessary to identify resources in a variety of categories – and maybe some that we haven’t thought about! If the organization’s website makes it clear what they offer, adding them to the list may be all that’s needed. If it’s not clear or if you want to clarify or confirm that we can refer people to them, then a phone call may be necessary. You’ll want to be sure you know enough about VoteRiders’ ID assistance services so you can mention them to the organizations you’re calling as you may open up a chance for VoteRiders to partner with them!

As always, orientation to VoteRiders’ mission is provided and support is available as needed.

Interested? Contact Pam Pearson at pam@voteriders.org.

Opportunity: Assistant to the National Voter ID Assistance Director 

Position Description: If you’re not sure what sort of volunteer work you want to do, but like the VoteRiders’ mission and want to help, one option is to start by working one-on-one with Pam Pearson, the National Voter ID Assistance Director at VoteRiders. She lives right in Davidson so some work may be in-person, but most will be able to be done virtually on your own schedule.

This unique opportunity will give you the inside view of this fast-growing organization and gain the insights you need to figure out what other opportunities might be a good fit for you.

Pam’s current priorities include:

• Taking a step back and reimagining/recreating the ride management program where we provide free, safe rides via Uber or Lyft to get people back and forth to the DMV and SSA offices to get their IDs

• Continuing to attract, train and retain a team of dedicated volunteers to ensure we’re ready to provide the ID assistance people will need to be able to cast their ballots this fall and of course in 2021. 

  • Continuing to create and update resources for volunteers so they’ll be able to provide ID assistance services accurately and efficiently

Interested? Contact Pam Pearson at pam@voteriders.org.

Opportunity: Direct Service Volunteer Opportunities

Position Descriptions: Consistent with VoteRiders’ mission, the majority of the service opportunities relate to educating voters about the applicable voter ID requirements and assisting voters who need to obtain a state-issued ID. Depending on each scholar’s interests, there are a wide range of opportunities available.

• Voter ID (VID) education - With support from VoteRiders’ staff, identifying and attending community events and providing information to voters who may be unaware of or confused about the voter ID requirements in their state. Particularly in North Carolina where the state has a constitutional amendment requiring photo ID to vote but no voter ID law is currently in effect, eliminating confusion and instilling confidence in voters so they will understand that their vote is critical.

  • Similarly, identifying and creating opportunities for VoteRiders to present information either virtually or in person to increase voter awareness of the applicable voter ID rules in the state.

  • Writing blog posts, OpEds, letters to the editor, etc. to highlight the ID barriers facing voters, creating greater awareness and understanding of the answer to the question, “What’s the big deal about requiring ID to vote?”

• Voter ID Assistance - North Carolina’s photo voter ID law went into effect in 2023 and will be in force beginning with the fall 2023 municipal elections. Students providing voter ID assistance will work on their own schedules to assist voters who have requested help getting a state ID or who need underlying documents, such as a birth certificate and social security card. The work is done one-on-one over the phone, with the student recording their progress in Zendesk, our secure case management system. We provide a pre-paid debit card to cover the costs and also training on the voter ID assistance process. In-person voter ID assistance opportunities are also available.

  • Provide one-on-one voter ID assistance to citizens who have indicated that they need help getting one or more forms of identification - including a birth certificate, social security card and state-issued ID or driver license. Where voters have changed their names due to marriage or divorce, related records may also be requested. In certain circumstances, VoteRiders may pay the DMV fees associated with renewing a Commercial Driver License (CDL). This opportunity typically includes:

  • In person: Attending scheduled Voter ID Clinics and working with voters individually to identify their document needs and begin the process of requesting the necessary documents. Scholars will interview the voters, record their information and create a plan to obtain the documents. Scholars will provide clear, understandable explanations of the process, how long it will take and manage the voter’s expectations. 

    • Scholars will manage their own voter’s requests for assistance, with support provided by VoteRiders’ staff as needed, including follow-up and completion of details concerning the voter’s records in VoteRiders’ client management platform.

    • This opportunity can be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, depending on the scholar’s schedule and availability.

    • In-person VID assistance typically involves scheduled shifts, but those shifts can often be arranged to align with a scholar’s class schedule for the semester. Virtual VID assistance can be done on the Scholar’s own schedule. 

  • Virtually: Scholars can do voter ID assistance work virtually based on their schedules and availability. The work can be done in conjunction with a specific partner organization as “virtual office hours,” or on an un-scheduled basis, assisting individual voters on the Scholar’s schedule. 

All of these opportunities require a solid understanding of Voter ID laws and how they impact voter action, as well as VoteRiders’ mission and its work and the impact that offering free voter ID assistance can have on the individual voter and the broader community. Information and training will be provided on the following subjects:

• VoteRiders’ history and mission

• Voter ID laws

  • Note: if a scholar has a connection to one of VoteRiders’ focus states, opportunities may be available to support similar work in those states

• Voter ID assistance

  • Interviewing voters to determine their ID needs

  • Determining what documents can be obtained with the voter’s current resources and making a plan to obtain those documents

  • Ordering necessary documents and follow-up

  • Arranging for the voter to obtain their state ID or DL

    • VoteRiders pays all of the direct costs associated with obtaining the birth certificate and state-issued ID or DL (the social security card is free), as well as providing free transportation to/from the ID issuing agencies

• Inputting voter information into VoteRiders’ voter management system, including updates, order numbers and other relevant information

• Other opportunities:

  • Resource building -Even as VoteRiders keeps a laser focus on its mission and responsibilities, once we begin assisting a voter, we are often asked for assistance that is beyond our scope. We want to build a listing of resources for each community in which we are working to enable us to provide a warm hand-off to voters in need of other assistance. This will include our local partner orgs which provide services, as well as other organizations. This work is a project which will likely be “completed” and only updated in the future if a resource changes or ceases operations. This work can be done virtually at times convenient to the scholar, although calls to potential referral partners to confirm the scope of their work would likely need to be done during business hours. 

  • Zendesk clean-up and standard-setting - together with the VoteRiders’ staff, work to help us complete or close existing “tickets” in our case management system so we can be caught up and then establish service standards for connecting with voters on a go-forward basis.

Skills and experience needed for successful volunteer experience with VoteRiders:

• Passion for democracy and voting - it’s best if you have this up front, but if not you will once you begin doing the work.

• Attention to detail and organization - you’ll likely be working with quite a few voters and it is essential that you keep track of the status of each document request or issue that arises. Keeping Zendesk updated in the notes and other sections will ensure that you (or anyone else who steps in) have all the information you need to complete the voter’s requests.

• Patience - the people with whom we work can occasionally be difficult and frustrating. We need to recognize that they are likely facing challenges that we don’t know about or haven’t experienced. We need to always be patient, while not tolerating rudeness or inappropriate behavior. 

• Empathy and trust-building- we need to establish a relationship of trust with the voters we assist, as we will be asking them to provide us with confidential information (such as their SSN). We are respectful, try to ensure some degree of privacy for our conversations and always be in integrity with our word. This means keeping the voter informed, being on-time for calls or in-person appointments, etc. At the same time, we should not get drawn into other aspects of their lives and needs, keeping clear boundaries. See our guidelines for Voter ID Assistance volunteers here. 

• Willingness to ask questions - everyone who does VID assistance (including experienced staff) runs into roadblocks from time to time. When this happens, it is important to tell the voter that you need to do some research or ask your supervisor a question and you’ll get back to them. This generally isn’t work where guessing is a good option (although we welcome ideas for creative workarounds)

• Some opportunities require special skills - for example, those participating in the refresh of our training materials may need script-writing, camera, acting or editing skills to effectively participate. We’ll certainly need someone with familiarity with YouTube to create an organized and accessible library.

Interested? Contact Pam Pearson at pam@voteriders.org.

Opportunity: Service Leadership Volunteer Opportunities

Position Descriptions:

• • Building on the knowledge and experience gained by doing VID assistance work, take on a leadership role with respect to an existing or new partner organization.

  • Meet and work directly with the organization’s leaders to identify and assess the scope of need and the best method and schedule for serving that need.

    • In-person vs. virtual (or a combination of both)

    • How to best identify those in need of ID assistance

    • Identify, train and oversee volunteers to staff the relationship

• Identify new democracy partners in the area with which we can partner to enhance VoteRiders’ visibility and impact in the community and across the state

  • Possible opportunities may include participation in events hosted by the other organization, including tabling, presentations/panels, providing our VID assistance cards, etc. Events at which voter registration is being offered is a natural opportunity for VoteRiders’ volunteers to assist those newly registered voters obtain a state ID or DL if they do not have one.

  • In many states with strict voter ID laws, there are existing registered voters who lack a state ID or DL. In the past, we have submitted an open records request for registered voter information, cross referenced with DMV information, providing a list of voters who are registered but currently lack a valid state ID or DL (in many cases, the list will be > 250,000 voters)

    • Together with other state-wide and local organizations, we will create a plan to reach these voters, inform them of the voting law ID rules and offer assistance to get a state ID or DL

      • In the past, we have used letter-writing and text banking parties to work through voter lists. Opportunities will exist for scholars to host and run the parties and any follow-up

Skills and experience needed for successful volunteer experience with VoteRiders:

• Passion for democracy and voting - it’s best if you have this up front, but if not you will once you begin doing the work.

• Attention to detail and organization - you’ll likely be working with quite a few voters and it is essential that you keep track of the status of each document request or issue that arises. Keeping Zendesk updated in the notes and other sections will ensure that you (or anyone else who steps in) have all the information you need to complete the voter’s requests.

• Patience - the people with whom we work can occasionally be difficult and frustrating. We need to recognize that they are likely facing challenges that we don’t know about or haven’t experienced. We need to always be patient, while not tolerating rudeness or inappropriate behavior. 

• Empathy and trust-building- we need to establish a relationship of trust with the voters we assist, as we will be asking them to provide us with confidential information (such as their SSN). We are respectful, try to ensure some degree of privacy for our conversations and always be in integrity with our word. This means keeping the voter informed, being on-time for calls or in-person appointments, etc. At the same time, we should not get drawn into other aspects of their lives and needs, keeping clear boundaries. See our guidelines for Voter ID Assistance volunteers here. 

• Willingness to ask questions - everyone who does VID assistance (including experienced staff) runs into roadblocks from time to time. When this happens, it is important to tell the voter that you need to do some research or ask your supervisor a question and you’ll get back to them. This generally isn’t work where guessing is a good option (although we welcome ideas for creative workarounds)

• Some opportunities require special skills - for example, those participating in the refresh of our training materials may need script-writing, camera, acting or editing skills to effectively participate. We’ll certainly need someone with familiarity with YouTube to create an organized and accessible library.

Interested? Contact Pam Pearson at pam@voteriders.org.

Opportunity: Capacity Building Volunteer Opportunities

Position Descriptions:

• Training -

  • Over the past 18 months, we developed and delivered an effective training program for VID volunteers. We believe, however, that the training can be made even more effective and have tentative plans for developing training materials and videos. In the current model, volunteers either attended a live training session or watched a video of a prior live session to be oriented to the following:

    • VoteRiders’ mission and history

    • Voter ID - what it is and what barriers it creates for voters

    • What is required to get a state-issued ID

  • This last segment has a great deal of information and, we believe may have been intimidating to some volunteers.

  • We are in the process of reimagining that segment in particular to make it less detailed and more engaging, providing an overview instead and then focusing on the impact of VoteRiders’ work.

• The Plan-

  • Break the training materials on “how to” get a state-issued ID into more accessible parts:

    • How to obtain a birth certificate

    • How to obtain a social security card

    • How to obtain proof of residency

    • Other modules on state-specific issues

  • For each subject, create one or more short videos featuring a diverse group of people playing the roles of the volunteer and the voter

    • Write scripts

    • Identify “actors” needed to play a role in the video

    • Videos may be role-playing or other demonstrations of how to obtain the necessary information from the voter and then order the necessary documents

  • Also create (or revise existing) written materials and resources to support the video trainings

  • Create a YouTube library where volunteers and staff can access the videos as needed for initial training purposes or refresher trainings

    • Customize training materials to be state-specific as needed (these videos will likely be quite short, providing concise information on any oddities of the state’s rules to ID acquisition

      • For example, PA requires that the voter’s billing address, mailing address and address on their state ID must match, which can create challenges if they do not yet have an ID and because the VoteRiders’ staff member or volunteer will be paying for the ID. There are some workarounds, but it’s complicated.

• Voter engagement

  • One of the greatest challenges is that many of the voters we serve have many other demands on their time and as a result, voting may not be top of mind (especially in municipal election years or mid-term years)

  • Help us create a plan to both partner with organizations that do voter education and GOTV, AND do outreach to voters whom we have assisted  to ensure the voters have whatever support they may need to be confident and successful when voting season arrives

    • Identify barriers to voter participation

      • Lack of knowledge about the offices for which candidates are running

      • Lack of knowledge about the candidates

      • Transportation

      • Options other than in-person voting

    • Create strategies and materials for addressing voter concerns and providing resources and information 

Skills and experience needed for successful volunteer experience with VoteRiders:

• Passion for democracy and voting - it’s best if you have this up front, but if not you will once you begin doing the work.

• Attention to detail and organization - you’ll likely be working with quite a few voters and it is essential that you keep track of the status of each document request or issue that arises. Keeping Zendesk updated in the notes and other sections will ensure that you (or anyone else who steps in) have all the information you need to complete the voter’s requests.

• Patience - the people with whom we work can occasionally be difficult and frustrating. We need to recognize that they are likely facing challenges that we don’t know about or haven’t experienced. We need to always be patient, while not tolerating rudeness or inappropriate behavior. 

• Empathy and trust-building- we need to establish a relationship of trust with the voters we assist, as we will be asking them to provide us with confidential information (such as their SSN). We are respectful, try to ensure some degree of privacy for our conversations and always be in integrity with our word. This means keeping the voter informed, being on-time for calls or in-person appointments, etc. At the same time, we should not get drawn into other aspects of their lives and needs, keeping clear boundaries. See our guidelines for Voter ID Assistance volunteers here. 

• Willingness to ask questions - everyone who does VID assistance (including experienced staff) runs into roadblocks from time to time. When this happens, it is important to tell the voter that you need to do some research or ask your supervisor a question and you’ll get back to them. This generally isn’t work where guessing is a good option (although we welcome ideas for creative workarounds)

• Some opportunities require special skills - for example, those participating in the refresh of our training materials may need script-writing, camera, acting or editing skills to effectively participate. We’ll certainly need someone with familiarity with YouTube to create an organized and accessible library.

Interested? Contact Pam Pearson at pam@voteriders.org.