Parkersburg woman works to Spread the Vote
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PARKERSBURG -- First hand knowledge of the Voter ID laws and the problems of not having a voter identification led a Parkersburg woman to become the West Virginia chapter representative for Spread the Vote.
"Spread the Vote and Project ID is the epitome of grassroots work," Peshka Calloway said. "Most of us take for granted having a government-issued ID and the doors of opportunity it opens. I had worked as a case manager last year with young adults, and I quickly realized that not having a photo ID becomes a barrier to obtaining housing, to open a bank account or to cash a check, to obtaining employment and much more. The obstacles to obtaining an ID are numerous."
Erin Timony, assistant communications director for West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner, said of Spread the Vote and its work, "Any group that works to educate the public about voter laws and works to register eligible citizens so that they can participate in the election process is always beneficial."
Timony said West Virginia has registered 107,473 new voters in the same 24-month period as the state removed 109,430 outdated, duplicate, deceased and convicted felon voter files from the state's voter registration list.
"Making sure voter rolls are accurate is key in protecting the integrity of our election system," she said.
"Our office field representatives do a great job in getting out in the community and engaging the public, especially eligible young people, about the importance of participating in our election process," she said. "We have voter registration drives and other events where we help register those who are eligible but not registered."
Calloway is a 2005 Parkersburg High School graduate who joined the U.S. Army and became a chemical operations specialist. She also graduated from West Virginia University at Parkersburg in 2015 with a regent's bachelor's of arts with an emphasis in business administration.
Prior to joining Spread the Vote, she was the constituency engagement adviser for her local affiliate, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, and was a nationally recognized storyteller of the 2018 Planned Parenthood National Speakers Bureau.
The organization's launch in West Virginia is part of the group's seven-state expansion to combat tough voter ID laws across the country.
"West Virginia was selected due to it being a Voter ID state. The mere presence of a voter ID law suppresses voters across the state, especially those without ID," she said. "There are 21 million eligible voters in the United States who don't have a photo ID. The average cost for IDs is $40, but obtaining the documentation to secure an ID is a huge barrier for those living in the margins.
"For those living in the margins, they don't have this vitally important piece of plastic to obtain housing, medical care, open a bank account or obtain access to food banks and shelters," she said.
"We help these folks by paying for all costs associated with getting an ID. Our goal is to help those in West Virginia who need ID 365 days plus one - everyday and election day," she said.
Timony added, "Not only is having ID important in verifying that the person is who they say they are, but it is also law when going to vote in federal, state, county and municipal elections. Beginning in January of 2018, with the Voter Identification Law, it is now law that voters must show one valid form of ID to vote in person."
Since the organization's founding in 2017, Spread the Vote has been powered by over 30 local chapters in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and Texas that not only pays for and secures people identification cards, but then educates them about the voting process.
"I was drawn to this organization because of the founder, Kat Calvin," Calloway said. "We both are committed to ensuring that everyone who needs an ID in West Virginia, gets an ID and I'm here to make sure we follow through."
Calloway hit the ground running, wading into the political process in Charleston, attending the opening day of the Legislature and making the rounds in the Legislature.
"As the West Virginia state director of Spread the Vote + Project ID, I will be responsible for building long-term power across the state. Currently, I'm working on building regional chapters, recruiting chapter leaders and volunteers," she said.
"I'm looking for partners from every part of the state and donors who are inspired and support our work. All funding raised in West Virginia stays in West Virginia to support obtaining IDs and vital documents for our voters.
"I personally believe that networking and making face-to-face connections make the biggest impact," she said. "I attended Kids and Families Day at the Capitol to connect with organizations that are already providing services to the local or state communities."
She added, "I'm looking for partner organizations who may already be doing ID work, or who may be in need of ID work to be done in their communities.
"Spread the Vote and Project ID is already active in issues involving Charleston. We're partnered with the ACLU of West Virginia to keep an eye on what's going on at the Capitol with regard to bills that may suppress the votes of our community members living in the margins."
Calloway will work remotely from Parkersburg. "However, I am a director who prefers to have my boots on the ground across this state," she said. "As a U.S. Army veteran, I lead by doing. My partners, chapter leaders and volunteers know that what they experience on the ground, they have me right there with them."
Those interested in discussing Spread the Vote and Project ID or who are interested in volunteering, partnering or donating, can email Calloway at peshka@spreadthevote.org or call 304-699-1006.
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Voter Identification
In West Virginia, a person must have one of the following forms of identification in order to vote.
* West Virginia driver's license or ID card
* Driver's license issued by another state
* U.S. Passport
* Photo employee identification card issued by the U.S. Government or State of West Virginia
* Student ID card issued by a West Virginia institution of higher education or West Virginia high school.
* Military identification card with photo issued by the United States
* Concealed carry permit with a photograph
* Medicare or Social Security card
* Birth certificate
* Voter registration card issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia
* Hunting or fishing license issued by the State of West Virginia
* Identification card issued by the West Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
* Identification card issued by the West Virginia Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program
* West Virginia Medicaid card
* Bank or debit card
* Utility bill issued within six months of the date of the election
* Bank statement issued within six months of the date of the election
* Health insurance card.