Don't Have Your Passport? Get one! Here's Why. [View all]

[MineralMan]

There is a non-zero chance that Trump is going to get elected. Some think it's odds-on that he will. I don't think so, but I was wrong in 2016, too.

Why a passport? Let me give you an example from today. My Minnesota Driver's License needed to be renewed. It got renewed in 2020 by mail, due to the pandemic, but not this year. Since things are getting stickier and stickier out there, I decided to go ahead and get the Real ID version.

So, I showed up at the local DVS license and registration office this morning. The county has one. No appointment, which meant that I had to cool my heels there for a couple of hours. That gave me a chance to watch folks get or try to get their Driver's Licenses while I waited. I had everything I needed to get the Real ID. Lots of people, however, did not. And there's a catch - one people don't know about. The required proof of identity, proof of citizenship, and proof of residence stuff must all have your full name. First, Middle, and Last. If you're a married woman who assumed her husband's name, you'll also need your Marriage Certificate, too, along with birth certificate. All have to have your full name.

I knew that, so I brought my Passport, which has that and is proof of citizenship, as well. I had to prove that I lived where I lived. That's trickier. Those documents, too, have to have your full name. No initials. If you have a Jr. or something added, they all have to have that, too. There's a long list of things you can use, but the two you bring have to include your full name and current address that matches the one on your existing driver's license.

I watched, as person after person did not have the documents needed with them. Mostly, it was due to the lack of the identical full name. I understand. I often use my first name, middle initial, last name, and Jr. on stuff. You might, too. It's not enough. It can be a real scramble to find everything you need.

Fortunately, in Minnesota, one of the address samples is a vehicle title with your current address on it. Minnesota vehicle titles require full names. I had one of those, my Passport, My current Driver's license, and the title for one of my cars was all I needed. One guy was there at the window when I came in. When I left, two hours later, he was still there, trying to find some document that met the requirements in the stack he had. He was also Black, and spoke with an accent. He was leaving as I left, but without getting his driver's license renewed.

So, let's think about the MAGA bunch getting control of government. They have plans. They have schemes. All designed to strip people of their rights to vote and to do many other things. Before it becomes impossible to get a passport, you should get one. Now. Not later. Do whatever it is you need to do to have the documents you need for that. Don't wait until it becomes almost impossible if more restrictions are put on the Passport requirements.

If you're a woman. If you're brown. If you have an odd, foreign sounding name. Get your passport. If you don't have one, get one before inauguration day in 2025. Just in case. You may find out you need it for many reasons. Don't get caught without it, please.

Just saying. Or, go sit in the driver's license line for a couple of hours and see how much trouble people are already having there. Get your documents together and store them safely. You may need them.