Oct. 1 deadline looms even as five Chicago-area driver’s service centers have remained closed for a year and 1.2 million licenses and IDs have expired.

Americans previously needed to update their ID by Oct. 1 to be allowed to fly and visit federal facilities without additional documentation.

This revelation is the third mistake involving the Illinois Secretary of State concerning voter registration since January.

A trip to renew your state ID or driver’s license can be a confusing experience. Here is what you need to know before you go to get a REAL ID.