Janette Gantt Palmer was born at home in 1949, during segregation in Aiken County, South Carolina. Because of this, she was never issued a birth certificate.
Now, at 76 years old, Gantt Palmer is trying to renew her driver’s license, and she’s hitting a roadblock.
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The reason? To comply with the new Real ID program, which takes effect on May 7, she needs a birth certificate or a passport to prove her identity. But Gantt Palmer doesn’t have either document.
"After waiting two hours in the line, I said, ‘I’d like to renew my driver’s license.’ ‘Oh no, you need this and you need that,’" Gantt Palmer told CBS News Miami. "For what, what reason? I never had it before."
An ongoing issue
This isn’t the first time Gantt Palmer has tried to get a birth certificate. She told CBS she’s been trying to get her hands on one her entire life. Without a birth certificate, she can’t get a passport or a new license, meaning she doesn’t have the necessary documents for Real ID compliance.
"Back in those days, we were born at home," she said. "The lady came to your house and helped your mom have the baby."
Still, the absence of a birth certificate didn’t stop Gantt Palmer from building a career. She worked as a postal worker for 42 years and drove school buses. Her postal worker ID helped her obtain a driver’s license in the past.
She’s since returned to the DMV multiple times, bringing various documents to prove her identity, including her Social Security card. She also has a letter from the State of South Carolina confirming it found no record of her birth after searching decades of archives.
The Aiken County Office of Vital Statistics told CBS News Miami it can provide a delayed birth certificate, but it’s a lengthy process. Gantt Palmer would need to gather her school records from the 1950s. She also has the option to go to court and get a judge’s order.
Florida State Rep. Ashley Gantt — Gantt Palmer’s niece — has been trying to help. She secured a 90-day extension and plans to reach out to a colleague in the South Carolina legislature to see if the process can be expedited..
Gantt Palmer is also working with U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart’s office to try to obtain a passport. Regardless of the outcome, she needs to be able to drive.
For now, she remains hopeful.
"God’s gonna work it out though," Gantt Palmer told CBS News Miami. "I don’t know how, but I need my driver’s license, I know that much."
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How the Real ID program works
Beginning May 7, the REAL ID Act — passed by Congress in 2005 — will finally be enforced. Its goal is to establish minimum security standards for driver’s licenses and other forms of identification.
A big part is to improve national security and prevent acts of terrorism. But why the nearly 20-year delay? Several factors have contributed, including states arguing they lacked the funding to implement the changes. As a result, extensions were granted over the years.
In recent years, it seemed the enforcement of REAL ID was ready to move forward. However, in late 2022, the Department of Homeland Security postponed the deadline again, citing significant delays caused by state licensing agencies dealing with backlogs from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting May 7, Americans will need a REAL ID-compliant license to access certain federal facilities, board commercial airplanes and enter nuclear power plants. All states are now issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses.
To get one, visit your state’s licensing agency website to check if you need an appointment and what documents are required.
At a minimum, you’ll need:
- Proof of your full legal name and date
- Your Social Security number
- Two documents showing your current address
- Proof of lawful status (e.g. immigration documents if you were born outside the U.S.)
Some states may have additional requirements.
Without a REAL ID, you won’t be able to board a domestic flight unless you have a passport, passport card or another TSA-accepted form of identification. (This rule doesn’t apply to children under 18.)
A standard, non-REAL ID driver’s license won’t suffice. You may also be denied access to certain federal buildings or nuclear facilities.
The TSA said it will use a "phased enforcement" approach starting May 7, though what that looks like remains unclear. To avoid issues, it’s best to have a compliant ID before the deadline.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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