OneID Columbus FAQ's
One ID Columbus is a coalition of area organizations advocating for a municipal ID program for Columbus.
What is a municipal ID?
- It is a secure photo identification card designed, issued, and controlled by a local government for its residents.
- The card is helpful for proving identity and could connect residents to services, programs, and benefits. It is beneficial to all residents of the municipality and especially to
vulnerable populations such as victims of domestic violence, the homeless, immigrants, those reentering society from prison/jail, and others.
Why is photo ID so important?
- Lack of photo ID can be a barrier to accessing many services and activities, such as health care, banking, libraries, food pantries, visitation at schools and local government buildings, and emergency housing.
- Lack of photo ID presents problems in encounters between residents and police officers when those encounters require resident identification.
- Lack of photo ID can contribute to a sense of isolation from the civic, cultural, and economic life of the community, and can decrease public safety by making residents lacking ID less likely to report suspicious
But why is there a need for another kind of ID? Aren't driver's licenses or state issued ID's available to all?
- Driver's licenses or state ID's are NOT available to all. Tens of thousands of Columbus residents find it either difficult or impossible to obtain the documents required by the state to obtain those state-issued ID's. To make photo ID accessible to all residents, municipal ID programs feature greater flexibility in the types of documents that applicants can present to qualify for an ID. The document lists are designed to reduce barriers to ID access, while still preventing identity fraud. Isn't it the case that municipal ID's really just benefit people who can't get driver's licenses or state ID?
- Properly designed municipal ID programs can provide significant new benefits to all residents, including those who already have other forms of photo ID. Examples include consolidating transit fare payments, library borrowing privileges, access to cultural centers, and business discounts into a single multipurpose card.
Are there any limitations on the use of municipal ID's?
- Municipal IDs do not give holders driving privileges, they cannot be used for air travel, and they are only accepted within the boundaries of the city that issues them (though other jurisdictions, government agencies, and companies may choose to accept them).
- The card would not authorize cardholders to receive public assistance benefits. It would not affect immigration status or provide work authorization.
- One ID Columbus got the support of former Councilmember, Michael Stinziano, in late 2016. He worked with the coalition to engage nearly 300 residents in Community Listening Sessions in 2017 (a link to one of the sessions can be found here. Stories from community members begin at time marker 10:06). *Special thanks to Steve Farber for recording the session!
- Stinziano also participated in the One ID-sponsored Community Summit in 2017 with speakers from New York City, Detroit, and Baltimore. The former head of the New York City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito, was the keynote speaker and shared much information about IDNYC. A link to the Summit video can be found here. Mark-Viverito's keynote begins at time marker 13:58. *Special thanks to Steve Farber for recording the Summit!
- Legislation for a municipal ID program was drafted in Summer 2017 and a feasibility study was completed in Summer 2019. Council has not taken any action since these were completed.
- The Coalition has not been able to secure a meeting with the Mayor on this topic.
- Channel 6 News did a report on the lack of response by City Council and the Mayor and how this impacts local families. A link to that news segment can be found here.
- The Columbus City Council-sponsored feasibility study estimates that the cost to set up the program is $500,000 to $600,000. After the first year, annual operating expenses are estimated to be $300,000 to $400,000. Click here to read the feasibility study.
The information compiled below is based on how municipal ID card programs work in other cities. The specifics of a potential municipal ID that could be used in Columbus would depend on local parameters and legislation.
Who can obtain a municipal ID card?
Municipal ID cards are available to persons who can provide documents that (1) establish their identity and (2) establish that they reside in the municipality. A variety of documents are typically accepted to establish identity. Examples include U.S. or foreign passports, U.S.
or foreign driver's licenses, U.S. or foreign birth certificates, green cards, consular identification cards, individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN), electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, school identification cards and more. Depending on the documents
presented, applicants may be asked to provide more than one item. As evidence of residency, applicants can provide documents such as a driver's license with a current address, a utility bill, a current lease, a recent bank account statement, income tax or refund
statements, a letter from a homeless shelter or city agency, etc.
What are the potential benefits of having a municipal ID card?
In other cities one can use the card to gain access to municipal buildings which require ID, such as public schools attended by one’s children, and city government offices, and to access city services. Police officers accept the card as valid identification. Having ID that
law enforcement officers accept is important because in instances of minor infractions, police can then merely issue a summons, rather than transporting the person to the ID bureau, police station, or jail.
The cards can be used to open a bank account at certain financial institutions and receive discounts at local businesses and cultural institutions. Another exciting potential of municipal ID cards is that they could provide residents with the convenience of
consolidating several common functions into a single card: for example, they might be designed to replace or substitute for library cards and public transit discount cards.
Where would one obtain the card?
In other cities, individuals must bring an application to a city/county office or to an Enrollment Center to sign up by appointment. In New York City, libraries are common Enrollment Centers.
How much would the card cost?
This would depend on how the local government sets this up. In other cities, there is a small cost of $10-$15 with the option of filling out a waiver for the cost. In New York City, the card was free during the first years of the program.
Does immigration status affect eligibility to obtain the card?
In other cities, all residents can apply for the card regardless of immigration status. Also, in those cities, there are no questions about immigration status and no information is collected on immigration status. The card is available to all residents who can establish
identity and residency.
What information is on the card?
In other cities, the card features a photograph, name, date of birth, eye color, and height. Each card will have its own unique ID number, expiration date, emergency contact information, and whether the person would like to be an organ donor. New York City also
includes whether the person prefers to speak a language other than English. In some places, there is an option not to include gender.
The card shows one’s home address unless a person is a survivor of domestic violence and has security concerns about their address appearing on the card or the person lacks a home address and resides in a shelter. Options to use an alternative address must be determined
by legislation in the municipality.
Does the card expire?
In other cities, there is an expiration date of usually 5 years.
In what instances would the ID not be accepted?
The ID would be limited to use in situations under the jurisdiction of the municipality. A municipal ID card would not provide proof of identity to obtain a driver's license. The card could not be used as proof of age to purchase alcohol or tobacco products. The card would
not authorize cardholders to receive public assistance benefits or to board a commercial airline flight. It would not affect immigration status or provide work authorization.
Municipal ID cards are available to persons who can provide documents that (1) establish their identity and (2) establish that they reside in the municipality. A variety of documents are typically accepted to establish identity. Examples include U.S. or foreign passports, U.S.
or foreign driver's licenses, U.S. or foreign birth certificates, green cards, consular identification cards, individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN), electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, school identification cards and more. Depending on the documents
presented, applicants may be asked to provide more than one item. As evidence of residency, applicants can provide documents such as a driver's license with a current address, a utility bill, a current lease, a recent bank account statement, income tax or refund
statements, a letter from a homeless shelter or city agency, etc.
What are the potential benefits of having a municipal ID card?
In other cities one can use the card to gain access to municipal buildings which require ID, such as public schools attended by one’s children, and city government offices, and to access city services. Police officers accept the card as valid identification. Having ID that
law enforcement officers accept is important because in instances of minor infractions, police can then merely issue a summons, rather than transporting the person to the ID bureau, police station, or jail.
The cards can be used to open a bank account at certain financial institutions and receive discounts at local businesses and cultural institutions. Another exciting potential of municipal ID cards is that they could provide residents with the convenience of
consolidating several common functions into a single card: for example, they might be designed to replace or substitute for library cards and public transit discount cards.
Where would one obtain the card?
In other cities, individuals must bring an application to a city/county office or to an Enrollment Center to sign up by appointment. In New York City, libraries are common Enrollment Centers.
How much would the card cost?
This would depend on how the local government sets this up. In other cities, there is a small cost of $10-$15 with the option of filling out a waiver for the cost. In New York City, the card was free during the first years of the program.
Does immigration status affect eligibility to obtain the card?
In other cities, all residents can apply for the card regardless of immigration status. Also, in those cities, there are no questions about immigration status and no information is collected on immigration status. The card is available to all residents who can establish
identity and residency.
What information is on the card?
In other cities, the card features a photograph, name, date of birth, eye color, and height. Each card will have its own unique ID number, expiration date, emergency contact information, and whether the person would like to be an organ donor. New York City also
includes whether the person prefers to speak a language other than English. In some places, there is an option not to include gender.
The card shows one’s home address unless a person is a survivor of domestic violence and has security concerns about their address appearing on the card or the person lacks a home address and resides in a shelter. Options to use an alternative address must be determined
by legislation in the municipality.
Does the card expire?
In other cities, there is an expiration date of usually 5 years.
In what instances would the ID not be accepted?
The ID would be limited to use in situations under the jurisdiction of the municipality. A municipal ID card would not provide proof of identity to obtain a driver's license. The card could not be used as proof of age to purchase alcohol or tobacco products. The card would
not authorize cardholders to receive public assistance benefits or to board a commercial airline flight. It would not affect immigration status or provide work authorization.
