Apr 13, 2021
Complaints from two local women about the hassles married women face when applying for a new federal REAL ID should be forwarded to the federal government.
The women echo a complaint being made around the country that REAL ID laws burden women more than they do men because women have to show documentation for any name change. For some women, that could mean a birth certificate and then more than one marriage or divorce certificate. Older women have it particularly hard because they have to track down documentation going back decades.
REAL ID has roots from the 9-11 Commission convened to investigate the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and make recommendations about future policies. Commission members advocated for a way to make it more difficult for potential terrorists to get fraudulent photo identification and thus was REAL ID born. Now, states have to require that residents seeking licenses and ID cards provide more rigorous proof of their identity and their res