You Now Need An ID To Fly But Not To Vote

The REAL ID Act will be enforced nationwide in all 50 states beginning Wednesday, May 7.

Starting that day, every adult boarding a commercial domestic flight or entering certain secure federal facilities will need to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another form of accepted identification such as a U.S. passport.

For all of y’all that waited until the last minute and are now going to hold everybody up because you couldn’t manage to get a real ID in the last five+ years, just do us all a favor and don’t fly and don’t try to fly until you get your real ID or bring a passport. Your…

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) May 4, 2025

Passed in 2005 in response to the 9/11 attacks, the REAL ID Act aimed to tighten federal identification standards. But the rollout has been marked by state resistance, logistical challenges and privacy concerns. Some states — over a dozen at one point — flat-out refused to comply early on, citing high costs and civil liberties concerns. (RELATED: Trump’s Former Aides Lead DHS Review At Transportation Security Administration)

If your driver’s license doesn’t feature a gold or black star, you may be turned away at airport security — unless you have another acceptable form of ID like a passport, military ID or Department of Homeland Security-trusted traveler card.

While you now need federally-recognized ID to board a plane, you don’t need any identification to vote in person in several states — including California, New York, Oregon and others.

Currently, 35 states require or request ID to vote, but the remaining 15 states and Washington, D.C. either don’t require it or allow a wide range of non-photo verification, such as signing a name or providing a utility bill.