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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

REAL ID Does Not Require Change In Card Face, Says Ill. Sec. Of State

Secretary of State

If you have not gotten your passport yet due to Real ID compliance issues in Illinois, no need to worry. The effectiveness date for the act has been extended.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says there will be no I.D.-related security changes at airports for at least two years. The department previously said the act would go into effect after Sunday.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office said in a release any changes will begin no sooner than Jan. 22, 2018. Until then, Illinois driver’s licenses and I.D. cards will still be accepted to board commercial airplanes for domestic travel.

Henry Haupt, a spokesman with the Illinois Secretary of State, says the current licenses themselves are secure and acceptable.

"And I don't meant to be flippant, it's true," Haupt said. "DHS does not have a problem with our licenses or I.D. card physically."

Haupt says one major demand is that D-H-S wants Illinois to REQUIRE people to show either a birth certificate or passport when they get or renew a license. That’s something the state doesn't require now.

Haupt says it will cost Illinois money to buy scanning equipment and digital storage, along with federal uploading fees.

Jesse White’s office says they will continue to work with DHS and the Illinois General Assembly regarding the REAL ID act. Other states that have not complied with the REAL ID act yet are Missouri, Minnesota, Washington and New Mexico.

The REAL ID Act, approved by Congress more than a decade ago, set minimum standards for licenses following Sept. 11, 2001.

  • WNIJ's Katie Finlon and WUIS's Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.
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