More Than 1,100 Residents Took Advantage of Giannoulias’ Expanded Saturday Hours at REAL ID Supercenter

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office processed 1,123 REAL IDs and the Cook County Clerk’s office issued 412 vital records during the first Saturday of expanded hours at the REAL ID Supercenter and the Clerk’s downtown office.

The expanded Saturday hours launched January 17 ahead of TSA’s new $45 REAL ID penalty, which takes effect on February 1. The effort is aimed at reducing wait times, minimizing hassle and ensuring Illinoisans can secure their REAL IDs before the penalty begins.

Giannoulias partnered with Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon to make it easier to obtain required REAL ID documents – including birth certificates and name-change records – by offering Saturday hours at the Clerk’s Vital Records Department.

“The strong turnout on our first Saturday proves how much demand there is for expanded hours,” Giannoulias said. “In just one day, we processed more than 1,100 REAL IDs and the Cook County Clerk issued over 400 vital records. With TSA’s $45 penalty just weeks away, we’re urging residents to act now. We’re making it easier than ever with expanded Saturday hours, hundreds of new appointments and our partnership with the Clerk’s office – delivering less hassle, less time and no surprise fees at the airport.”

The new Saturday hours at the Secretary of State’s REAL ID walk-in Supercenter, 191 N. Clark St., and the Cook County Clerk’s Vital Records Department, 118 N. Clark St., are designed to make it more convenient for Illinoisans with busy schedules who may not have time to visit a DMV during the week.

Giannoulias also announced that his office is adding more than 500 additional appointments at 15 Chicago-area DMVs, which are already open every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

Expanded Saturday hours will continue for the next two weekends ahead of the February 1 deadline, when TSA will begin charging airline passengers an additional $45 if they do not have a REAL ID or valid U.S. passport to board a domestic flight.

Since launching Get REAL Illinois, the office has seen a surge in REAL ID adoption. In 2025 alone, the Secretary of State’s office issued 1.5 million REAL IDs, pushing the statewide total past 5 million. Compliance has jumped from 29% this time last year to nearly 44% today.

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