State health department extends hours to help Arkansans meet REAL ID deadline

The Arkansas Health Department is extending hours of operation Saturday at local health units in response to increased demand for birth certificates, an important document for obtaining a REAL ID.

Beginning May 7, REAL IDs will be required for all Americans to board domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings. 

According to a press release, the following ADH locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to issue certified birth certificates: 

• ADH Main Office, Vital Records — 4815 W. Markham, Little Rock
• Pulaski Central Local Health Unit — 3915 W. 8th Street, Little Rock
• Washington County Local Health Unit — 3270 Wimberly Drive, Fayetteville
• Craighead County Local Health Unit — 611 E. Washington Avenue, Jonesboro
• Miller County Local Health Unit — 503 Walnut, Texarkana
• Drew County Local Health Unit — 940 Scogin Drive, Monticello

Arkansans must bring a valid driver’s license and pay a $12 fee to obtain a birth certificate. More information about obtaining birth certificates is available on the health department’s website. 

Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration officials earlier this week announced driver’s license offices in five cities would also have extended hours Saturday to assist Arkansans attempting to acquire their REAL IDs ahead of next month’s deadline. 

Offices in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Texarkana and Monticello will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Appointments are recommended but not required, and can be scheduled on the finance department’s website.

REAL IDs began with a 2005 law passed by Congress in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Instituting REAL IDs statewide “will help fight terrorism and reduce identity fraud,” according to the finance department website.

REAL IDs are signified by a gold star on a driver’s license or state-issued ID card. The state finance department has issued roughly 140,000 REAL IDs since Jan. 1, including 52,000 in March, bringing the statewide total to roughly 800,000, DFA Secretary Jim Hudson said in a Tuesday press conference.