The downtown facility aims to meet the “unprecedented demand” for Real IDs while easing strain on DMV operations, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

After being extended multiple times, the deadline for needing a Real ID to travel domestically is finally approaching. But not everyone needs a Real ID. Who does and how can you make the process as quick and painless as possible?

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias on Thursday announced that of the nearly 385,000 votes his office received between January and February, more than 165,000 (43% of all ballots) were cast for the existing flag.

Due to the surge in demand, the Secretary of State’s Office launched an online portal so residents can determine whether they need a REAL ID before the federal enforcement period begins. The office is asking residents to wait until after May 7 to apply if they do not have immediate travel plans.

Under the new bill, Illinois would increase the age for mandatory behind-the-wheel driving tests from 79 to 87. The proposal also creates a mechanism for relatives to report family members of any age they believe are unsafe drivers.

By the end of the year, users of iPhones or Apple watches should also be able to store a digital version of their Illinois driver’s license or state ID in their Apple wallet.

More than 300 license plate requests in Illinois were denied last year for profanity, offensive language or illegibility, according to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.

Illinois has nearly 300 new laws taking effect on Jan. 1, 2025, covering everything from specialty plates for motorcycles to the creation of a task force on water quality.

The four-year driver's license for noncitizens features a standard red banner and replaces “Not Valid For Identification” with “Federal Limits Apply.” Noncitizens who are unable or choose not to drive also have the option to obtain a standardized ID.

The Secretary of State’s office is deploying 15 kiosks located in Chicago, the suburbs and downstate in Mariano’s, Jewel-Osco, Kroger and Meijer grocery stores. The kiosks will print vehicle registration stickers for customers immediately on site. Customers seeking a driver’s license or state ID card renewal will receive a temporary document at the kiosk to use while their new card is mailed to them.

A state commission is soliciting submissions for a new Illinois flag.

Want to rent an apartment? You’ll need identification. A valid driver’s license or ID is also typically needed to get a job, apply for benefits or visit the doctor. That can present an obstacle for individuals who’ve been in prison or jail, during which time their IDs were lost or expired.

Starting Monday, Illinois residents without U.S. citizenship can receive a standard driver’s license as part of a new law that aims to reduce instances of discrimination. The standard driver’s license replaces Temporary Visitor Driver’s Licenses, used by more than 300,000 Illinois residents.

Currently, doctors say it can sometimes be difficult for medical personnel to access those forms, especially if a patient is incapacitated or having an emergency away from their medical home.

Important documents — the volumes of paperwork that go along with buying or selling a home, for example, or granting the power of attorney — require notarization. Under a new initiative announced Wednesday by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, the entire process can now be done remotely.

The cause was an outage in the “national network that connects driver’s license facilities,” a network run by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. That outage resulted in the system having to shut down across the country.