Arkansas surpasses 400,000 REAL IDs issued

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas recently surpassed 400,000 in REAL IDs issued in the state.

On October 1, 2021, the REAL ID will be required to board a plane or enter a federal facility. Since the first REAL ID was issued in Arkansas in October 2016, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration has issued 402,963 in total. This represents approximately 17 percent of active licenses and IDs in the state.

“While the REAL ID is an option and not a requirement in Arkansas, we anticipate a significant number of Arkansans will gain interest in obtaining a REAL ID as we approach October,” said spokesperson Scott Hardin.

All 134 state revenue offices across the state can issue the REAL ID.

The federal government passed a law after 9/11 establishing new security requirements for state-issued driver’s licenses and identity cards when they are used for certain federal purposes, like entering a federal building or boarding a domestic flight.