Texas leads with 98% REAL ID compliance as deadline nears for travelers

Getting to know REAL ID

The REAL ID Act was passed after the 9/11 attacks to bump up security by setting uniform standards for state-issued IDs (like driver’s licenses). You can spot a REAL ID by the star in the upper corner, which means extra documentation (for example, a Social Security card) was provided. Despite the plan, several presidential administrations have pushed back its full rollout.

Dr. Magdalena Krajewska—a political science professor at Wingate University and an expert on national identity cards—was taken aback by the ongoing delays, saying, “I can’t accept this” (she’s pretty clear about how important these changes are).

How states are doing with compliance

Right now, at least 12 states have over 90% of their citizens on board with REAL ID rules. Texas tops the chart with an impressive 98%, followed closely by Mississippi at 97% and both Hawaii and Utah at 96%. Other states putting in the work include Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Washington D.C. (all marked as “green” for their progress).

On the flip side, a CBS News analysis from April found that 17 states are below 50% compliance, with 30 states under 70%. This spread means residents in many areas might need to take extra action to get on track.

Passport ownership trends across the country

Passport ownership isn’t the same everywhere. New Jersey leads the pack with 69% of residents holding a passport. Other states where many folks have passports include Delaware, California, New York, Massachusetts, and Alaska. In contrast, states like West Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Alabama (where large airports are rare) tend to have lower passport rates.

If you live in one of those areas with fewer passports and still need an option for travel without a REAL ID or passport for domestic trips, regional Amtrak stops might be your best bet. Places like Harpers Ferry in West Virginia, Jackson in Mississippi, Ashland in Kentucky, and Birmingham in Alabama offer solid transportation alternatives.

Other forms of acceptable ID

If you don’t have a REAL ID, don’t sweat it—TSA checkpoints accept several other forms of ID, including:

• A U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
• Trusted traveler program cards like Global Entry
• Department of Defense IDs
• Permanent resident cards
• Border crossing cards
• Federally recognized tribal photo IDs
• Federal employee or contractor IDs
• Foreign government-issued passports
• Canadian provincial driver’s licenses or indigenous people’s IDs from Canada
• Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC)
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employment authorization cards
• Merchant mariner credentials
• Veteran health identification cards

Remember, temporary driver’s licenses won’t cut it under these new rules.

Getting ready for the switch

With enforcement kicking in this Wednesday, the TSA is set on keeping passengers safe while trying to avoid any major hold-ups at airports nationwide. Adam Stahl from TSA said, “The TSA will ensure passenger safety while working to minimize operational disruptions” (more of a heads-up than a threat). Meanwhile, Kristi Noem mentioned that even if your ID isn’t up to snuff, you might just go through a few extra steps—but you’ll still be allowed to fly: “If they’re non-compliant… we’ll ensure it’s as smooth as possible.”

So if your ID isn’t REAL ID compliant, be ready for some extra identity checks. It’s a smart move to allow yourself plenty of time—think arriving three hours early for domestic flights—in case this happens.

Staying on top of these changes and making sure your documents are in order will help keep your travel (and access to government sites) seamless as the REAL ID deadline gets closer. Now’s a good time to get everything sorted so you don’t have to worry later.