Pennsylvania has a really low Real ID adoption rate

The big picture: The Real ID deadline is May 7. More residents are scrambling to meet it, PennDot spokesperson Aimee Inama tells Axios.

• More than 122,700 residents got their Real ID in March, nearly twice as many as the previous month, per PennDOT.
• But only 26% of Pennsylvania driver's license and state ID holders have upgraded so far.

The caveat: Real ID is optional, which helps explain the lower adoption rate.

How it works: Pennsylvania doesn't offer Real ID appointments.

• But people who received a state driver's license, learner's permit or state ID card after September 2003 can complete a pre-verification document check and fill out an online application to receive their Real ID.
• Expect to wait at least 15 business days to receive it in the mail.

Alternatively, you can get a Real ID on the spot after your documents are verified — but only at one of the state's 15 same-day locations.

1 stat to go: Expect to wait about an hour wherever you go. That's about how long it takes to finish the Real ID process at state locations, per PennDOT.