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It's trying to solve a bunch of different, slightly overlapping problems. Some examples: * provide an identity document that's hard to forge. Some states, Hawa
by AlotOfReading 2y ago
It's trying to solve a bunch of different, slightly overlapping problems. Some examples:
* provide an identity document that's hard to forge. Some states, Hawaii famously, had IDs that were ridiculously easy to forge.
* reduce expiration times so that identifying details aren't decades out of date. Some states (e.g. Arizona) issued IDs with 50+ years of validity.
* require actual verification of identity at issuance
* include SSN details. I have no idea why this was a thing and it's since been removed from the actual federal requirements, but most states require original social security documents to be provided during application.
* to establish residency at a particular address.
If it were just identity and residency, states would accept things like voter registration as sufficient. Yet many states (e.g. California) do not.
- ghaff 2y agoThe SSN details weren’t true in MA. My card was lost at some point in college and I never bothered to replace. Probably should one of these years. Not sure what proof of voter registration would look like here though. Proof of resident address can actually be non-trivial for a lot of even housed people. I probably have some online bills and statements but would have to dig them up.
- AlotOfReading 2y agoThe state level variability is fun. I know it's required for CA from personal experience, and checked TX, FL before posting. Also checked NY (talk about bad documentation). All require it currently. Some states also don't like accepting online bills. That's the reason I wasn't able to ever get one in CA.
- ghaff 2y agoWell you probably have some national suppliers like Verizon or Xfinity but I’d mostly have to login and print out a bill assuming it had my address.