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Comment by kube-system | Hacker News Reader

It's important to the USPS because the reason they want to know a person's identity is for the purpose of physically delivering mail to the correct address for that person.

> what about states that don't reissue IDs when someone moves

Do these exist? I'm not aware of any state that doesn't require you to update your address when you move.

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California.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/online-change-of-address-coa-s...

> Will DMV send me a new DL/ID or registration card once my Change of Address is complete? No. New documents are not issued when you change your address. However, you can request a replacement DL/ID or replacement registration card after you confirm that your address was changed successfully.

I think that answers the question to “what about?” above. You request a replacement.

But you don't have to.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/california-driver-handboo...

  If you move, you must notify DMV of your new address within ten days. Submit a change of address online at dmv.ca.gov/addresschange or by mail. It is your responsibility to ensure DMV has your correct mailing address on record.

So, you are required to update your address, and DMV will have your correct address on file, but "you don't have to" update your license.

It’s about moving inside a state. I told the DMV of my new address, but my drivers license still has the old one. Maybe I could get it reissued, but that seems like a pain. Many people move more frequently than the license expiration period.

Every time I moved in Georgia, they mailed me a replacement license with my new address. Don't know if all states are like that but given the increasing desire to know people's whereabouts, I would guess many do. Georgia does say it can impose a fee of you move too many times during a license's validity period but haven't seen that actually happen.

They just mailed me a new ID with the updated address in VA when I requested, was a lot less of a pain than having government documents that are wrong, imo.

In Australia, after you change your licence address, they mail you a small sticker with the updated addres, that is then stuck onto the back of your licence.

There's a small section marked on the back that is specifically for it.

I guess if you move multiple times within the expiry period, you can pull the old sticker off and replace it.

I've seen this in my area around metro Detroit as well.

In my state you're required to update your address, but they don't send you a new ID unless you pay for it.

So if you get pulled over and a cop runs your license it will show your new address. On the other hand the bars etc don't care they just look at DoB and expiration.

If you're purchasing a firearm though they do run the real address, and if it's not accurate you could be in trouble.

In Australia they'd just mail you a sticker to affix to the back of your license with the updated address until renewal.

That's how New Jersey IDs worked until 9/11 too.

Whether it’s required or not, it’s rarely enforced.

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