Because it's too easy to get a Maine driver's license without verifying US citizenship, since 2010 Maine has had a succession of waivers from the federal RealID requirement.

The current waiver is scheduled to expire on 10 October 2018.

Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap - who since Day 1 has consistently resisted complying with RealID because of the anticipated expense of implementation - has requested extension of the state's waiver to 1 October 2020 and says he's confident the extension will be approved.

Absent the waiver, holders of Maine drivers licenses would be unable to board scheduled airline flights or enter nuclear plants and some federal facilities.

In April 2017, Gov. LePage signed into law a bill putting Maine "on track" to RealID compliance: that is, sooner or later, Mainers will get RealID-compliant drivers licenses. But no timetable yet.