President Bush signs REAL ID Act, 2005. White House // Paul Morse
Q1. The REAL ID Act of 2005 established federal requirements that driver's licenses issued in each state must satisfy in order to be accepted for boarding domestic flights. The rule was enacted in response to the Sept 11 attacks, aiming to standardize criteria used to issue driver’s licenses following recommendations from the 9/11 Commission.
The requirements each state must follow include verification of the personal information presented when applying for the license, security features on the license, and electronic sharing of databases between states.
Generally speaking, do you think driver's licenses needed such changes to make them fit as proof of identity for boarding domestic flights?
The requirements each state must follow include verification of the personal information presented when applying for the license, security features on the license, and electronic sharing of databases between states.
Generally speaking, do you think driver's licenses needed such changes to make them fit as proof of identity for boarding domestic flights?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes, and I approve of this Act
54%
60%
50%
70%
53%
39%
26%
56%
57%
62%
Yes, but don't approve of the Act
9%
10%
7%
9%
2%
10%
33%
3%
7%
5%
No, but approve of the Act
9%
10%
8%
4%
12%
12%
14%
5%
8%
11%
No, and don't approve of the Act
23%
17%
28%
16%
26%
28%
25%
24%
23%
19%
Don't know
5%
3%
8%
2%
7%
8%
3%
10%
4%
3%
Don't care
1%
1%
0%
0%
1%
1%
0%
2%
0%
Q2. On Wednesday, the Act went into effect, meaning only REAL ID compliant IDs can be used to board flights (though Homeland Security says those without compliant IDs will be able to fly for now, with additional screening).
Examples of compliant IDs include REAL ID compliant driver's licenses (usually marked with a star or flag in the upper right corner), passports, DHS Trusted Traveler cards, Global Entry cards, and US Dept of Defense IDs.
Do you have a REAL ID compliant ID?
Examples of compliant IDs include REAL ID compliant driver's licenses (usually marked with a star or flag in the upper right corner), passports, DHS Trusted Traveler cards, Global Entry cards, and US Dept of Defense IDs.
Do you have a REAL ID compliant ID?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes, including driver's license
69%
79%
62%
71%
70%
67%
60%
70%
70%
71%
Yes, but not driver's license
9%
6%
10%
6%
16%
9%
18%
8%
8%
5%
No
21%
13%
27%
21%
13%
22%
22%
20%
20%
23%
Not sure
1%
2%
1%
1%
0%
2%
0%
2%
1%
2%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Q3. The Act was originally intended to go into effect in 2008, but enforcement was delayed due to widespread opposition (including PA, ME, SC, OK) and refusal by many state governments to implement REAL ID requirements.
States began to comply in 2012, and by 2020 all states were certified to issue compliant IDs.
Which best describes your experience in acquiring a REAL ID compliant driver's license?
States began to comply in 2012, and by 2020 all states were certified to issue compliant IDs.
Which best describes your experience in acquiring a REAL ID compliant driver's license?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Got one, no problem
62%
76%
50%
68%
66%
55%
63%
60%
63%
62%
Got one, but was hard to do
8%
4%
10%
5%
8%
10%
0%
8%
8%
10%
Tried to get one, couldn't
2%
0%
3%
0%
3%
3%
0%
2%
2%
2%
Haven't tried, but knew they existed
20%
16%
23%
23%
14%
19%
11%
25%
20%
19%
Haven't tried, first I'm hearing of them
2%
2%
2%
3%
3%
1%
0%
1%
3%
3%
Other
4%
0%
8%
1%
1%
9%
22%
2%
1%
2%
Moot: don't have a driver's license
1%
1%
2%
1%
5%
0%
4%
0%
1%
1%
Don't know
1%
0%
2%
0%
0%
2%
0%
2%
1%
0%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
1%
46% wanted voter ID requirements strengthened, 38% stay same, 11% weakened
24% wanted to make it harders for people to vote, 53% easier, 22% same
40% wanted mandatory voter ID
Poll Comments (84)
