Illinoisans will be able to carry their driver’s licenses and state IDs digitally starting Wednesday, according to Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
“Your ID can live right on your iPhone — ready to use at airports, restaurants, and bars across the state,” Giannoulias said in a press release Tuesday.
Digital IDs and driver’s licenses will be available with the Apple Wallet app on iPhones and Apple Watches, but the Secretary of State plans to expand to Samsung and Google devices in the near future. Currently, 12 other states and Puerto Rico allow digital state IDs and driver’s licenses in the Apple Wallet.
The press release stated that digital IDs will not be allowed as substitutes for physical IDs in all cases, and people will still be required to carry their physical IDs when driving.
The Secretary of State will be launching a Mobile ID Verifier app, where businesses can check customer IDs for transactions such as the purchase of alcohol. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at over 250 airports across the country, including O’Hare and Midway, will also accept digital IDs from Illinois.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
“This launch brings together security, privacy, and convenience in a way that will make life easier for millions of people,” Giannoulias said in the press release. “We promised innovative solutions, and today, we’re delivering.”
Starting Wednesday, Illinois residents can add their IDs to their Apple Wallets by tapping the plus sign button in the Wallet app, selecting “Driver’s License or State ID” and following the instructions. They will then have to scan their ID and verify their identity by taking a selfie.
“Driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet bring users one step closer towards replacing the physical wallet with an easy, secure and private digital wallet,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, according to the press release.
