A day after the federal government announced that it has extended the deadline for Mainers to comply with REAL ID requirements, the ACLU of Maine called on the US Congress to end the deeply flawed policy once and for all.
“Maine was one of the first states in the country to oppose REAL ID, and, according to the Secretary of State, only about 14% of the state’s population has acquired REAL ID compliant identification,” said Meagan Sway, policy director for the ACLU of Maine. “REAL ID doesn’t make us safer. It’s a deeply flawed and costly law that puts privacy at risk. With delay after delay, the federal government admits that the law isn’t feasible. Now is the time for Congress to act and repeal REAL ID.”
The REAL ID Act became law in 2005. Since then, it’s implementation has faced significant hurdles and wide-spread opposition. The deadline for compliance has now been pushed back to May 7, 2025.
“It’s time to end this charade and repeal REAL ID,” Sway said. “This law is unworkable and has been rejected by Maine residents.”
