Yes, it true- Illinois permits you to cover your face when taking your driver’s license photo, all in the name of religious freedom and political correctness. What about national security?
While most religious coverings would still leave the ability to identify the subject at some level, the most concealing of Muslim religious covering for females, the burqa would leave the entire head and face covered. So, how could this be considered an ID?
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White stated:
[Our] office recognizes and respects the increasing diversity of religions practiced by Illinois residents. Members of many religions, such as Islam and Sikhism, wear religious head coverings, also known as articles of faith.
While hats or head coverings are generally prohibited from being worn in photographs used on Illinois driver’s licenses and identification cards, customers may be photographed while wearing established religious head coverings. Photographs increase public safety.
What we’re doing was always allowed… but what we want to ensure is that the public’s aware of them because we were told that some individuals were unaware that they could have their photo taken for the drivers [sic] license wearing them [religious head coverings], Haupt said
