Real ID deadline: These states have the most residents without passports
Real ID: Deadlines, alternatives, more information
Real ID requirements are set to go into effect soon. LiveNOW discusses what is expected of travelers soon with the new identification requirements at airports and other ports.
The deadline for travelers in the U.S. to have a Real ID is this week, but those without one will still be able to get to their destinations.
Travelers who aren’t REAL ID compliant will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny, the head of Homeland Security said Tuesday.
RELATED: The Real ID deadline is here: What to know
Kristi Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday.
(Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
However, a new report shows that there are millions of people who don't have a passport.
By the numbers:
The Center for American Progress published its data, showing the percentage of people who hold a passport by state and the number of people who don't have a passport.
According to the CAP, New Jersey, California, and Massachusetts have the highest percentages of people with a passport. West Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi are the states with the lowest percentages of residents without a passport.
What is the Real ID?
Dig deeper:
REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005.
The commission recommended the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008. But implementation has been repeatedly delayed.
Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, people will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.
In recent weeks, Noem has been warning the American public about the upcoming deadline. In a television ad put out by Homeland Security, she warned that these IDs were needed for air travel and for entering public buildings, adding: "These IDs keep our country safe."
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license has a symbol ( in most states, a star ) in the top corner of the card.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from multiple sources, including statements by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to a congressional panel and a public service announcement by the Department of Homeland Security. Data on passport ownership by state comes from a report published by the Center for American Progress. This story was reported from Los Angeles.