Illinois Secretary of State’s Office hosting pop-up events for REAL IDs

Posted on November 7, 2024

*Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington hosted a Real ID event on Wednesday with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. (Photo courtesy WMBD-TV)*

BLOOMINGTON – Dozens lined up at the Central Illinois Regional Airport to get their Real ID on Wednesday.

It was just the first of a handful of airport outreach for the Secretary of State’s office. They are setting up shop across central Illinois to help people through the real ID process.

Beginning May 7, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security is requiring a REAL ID for domestic air travel and entry into federal buildings. The pop-up events are a way to encourage people to “Get REAL” before the deadline.

Each event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday’s hours were extended to accommodate the many people looking to get ahead of the deadline. By 2:45 p.m. 68 people had been serviced.

Brenda Schwarting of Bloomington said the pop-up event is more convenient than going to the DMV.

“I actually saw it on Facebook over the weekend and that it’s at the airport, which is right across the street from where I live, and very conveniently close to where I work, too,” she said. “So I figured I’d take my lunch break, come over here if I forgot a form of documentation and go across the street, grab what I need and come right back.”

The next REAL ID “pop-up” events will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following airports:

Thursday Nov. 7 at Quincy Airport
- 1645 Highway 104, Quincy, IL 62305
Thursday Nov. 14 at Peoria International Airport
- 6100 West Everett McKinley Dirksen Parkway, Peoria, IL 61607
Thursday Nov. 21 at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport
- 1200 Capital Airport Drive, Springfield, IL 62707

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