It's really time to get a Real ID if you want to fly — sort of
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After 20 years of government warnings, today is the day that boarding a domestic flight without the long-awaited Real ID actually gets a little harder.
Why it matters: Roughly 30% of ID-carrying Arkansans have a Real ID, meaning many do not have adequate identification for air travel, despite last-minute proclamations that the new IDs won't be needed right away.
The latest: Despite today's deadline for needing a Real ID instead of a standard driver's license or state ID to hop on a plane, the Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday that it will allow travelers without one to fly for now, the AP reported.
- But doing so will require additional steps at the airport. (And who wants that?)
Reality check: We don't know when exactly Real ID is going to be fully enforced, but we do know your trip to the airport is going to go smoother if you have one.
The intrigue: While a passport serves as an acceptable ID equivalent, only about 28% of Arkansans have one, the fourth-lowest rate in the country and well under the national rate of 53%, according to the Center for American Progress.
- A Department of Defense ID card is also acceptable identification.
By the numbers: About 850,000 Arkansans — about a third of residents with a state-issued ID — had active Real IDs as of Monday, the state's finance and administration department spokesperson Scott Hardin told Axios.
- The state has seen a surge in applications ahead of the deadline, issuing about 30,000 Real IDs a week in the past month and 1,733 on a recent Saturday, when five offices were opened up to meet demand.
- About 1.9 million Arkansans have other, non-Real ID identification, Hardin said, and the state will continue to issue IDs that aren't Real IDs.
Caveat: The data includes people under 18, but only adults are required to have a Real ID to fly.
Yes, but: While some states are seeing lengthy wait times as they process applications, Arkansas is one of the few states where you can get your Real ID on the same day that you apply for one.
What's next: Those with upcoming flights who need a Real ID pronto can call 501-371-5664 for assistance, Hardin said.
Go deeper: The slackers among us can apply for a Real ID at any revenue office. Check for documents you'll need here.