The Illinois Story 2012
Two of the original Federal litigants that were refused driver's licenses in the State of Illinois for their religious conviction not to use a Social Security Number (SSN) for identification left their home state discouraged. It was impossible to attain the inalienable rights to travel, work, conduct business, or enjoy fishing and hunting; to function like their non-religious peers in the state where they were born.
They had to abandon their home and neighborhood where they grew up, their family, friends and acquaintances, as their own government had rejected and shunned them as criminals; offering no guidance or assistance to accommodate their innocuous religious beliefs. The Secretary of State washed his hands with a rejection letter as the General Assembly toiled on a new bill to give immigrants greater rights and privileges.
Having relocated to a farm in Kentucky, they found that State to be unintimidated by their religious views, protecting their First Amendment rights with a common sense and non-combative remedy.
Process
The application process was unhindered, and unlike the demeanor of the Illinois Secretary of State's agents that challenged and demeaned the applicants for their repeated requests for a drivers license without presenting a Social Security Card as identification, the clerks in Kentucky were informative and helpful.
The process took slightly longer than a regular application, but to the applicant's surprise there was no battle, no demeaning attitudes, no discouragement, and no rejection. They left the facility in amazement and were able to drive like normal citizens that qualify for the privilege. Their lives were instantly unfettered; an action that could have easily been replicated by the reluctant State of Illinois. After all, they were citizens of Illinois in good standing, and outstanding examples of that State's youth, not person non gratis, as they were treated for nearly a decade.
History
The Commonwealth of Kentucky had previously required that applicant's that had a religious conviction not to use a SSN for identification must acquire a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) stating that they were not eligible for Social Security. However, the SSA cannot qualify a person's eligibility based on religious opinion, because, nearly everyone born in the United States is eligible apply for a Social Security Number, though they might have personal reasons for not applying, and government agencies must remain neutral regarding religion. Thus, anyone that had a personal religious conviction could not receive the letter from the SSA. They were conveniently excluded from consideration; a Catch-22.Today
Application for a drivers license is a simple process in Kentucky. Once the applicant has established his residency, and the conscientious objector has completed a very simple affidavit stating the reason for not presenting a SSN for identification, the drivers license is approved. There is no grueling challenge of what a person holds dear to his/her convictions. There are no prolonged hearings, series of discouraging letters, or fees for consideration, as if the applicant must pay for his right to have a religious opinion.