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'myColorado' Digital ID Stores Driver's License, ID Card

DENVER (CBS4)- Now there's a new way to show identification in Colorado if you happen to leave your wallet at home. "myColorado" is a new app that allows you to store your driver's license or state-issued ID.

mycolorado id digital
myColorado (credit: Colorado.gov)

"We are moving towards allowing this to replace your plastic ID," said Gov. Jared Polis.

Wednesday he signed an executive order launching the Colorado Digital ID as part of the myColorado App.

The app allows users to present that digital form of identification in place of a physical card.

Polis talked about the new app and said the digital IDs will actually be more secure.

myColorado
myColorado (credit: Colorado.gov)

"This has even more security features than that plastic card. It includes advanced security features, a free-floating hologram image that moves when the digital ID is rotated, with the ability to press the ID and enlarge the text, and a barcode that can be scanned, the same as a physical ID," said Polis.

Gov. Jared Polis COLORADO DIGITIAL ID 12SOT.transfer_frame_77
Gov. Jared Polis (credit: CBS)

The state released a tutorial video on YouTube showing how to access the Colorado Digital ID on the myColorado App.

The process takes about 10 minutes and requires your physical ID.

myColorado™ - Set Up Your Colorado Digital ID™ by myColorado on YouTube

"The world has gone mobile and so has Colorado!" said Theresa Szczurek, who heads the Governor's Office of Information Technology and spearheaded the effort. "Coloradans would like to access state government services in the same way they do other transactions and that is securely, anywhere, anytime, from their smartphone."

myColorado More screen
myColorado (credit: Colorado.gov)

The state claims personal information is protected using multi-factor authentication and data encryption.

"The security is there. In many ways it's more secure than this [holds up wallet] because this easily gets lost or stolen," said Polis.

Law enforcement officers in Colorado will not accept the digital version just yet. The state said they are working on that and the goal is to have Colorado State Patrol able to accept the digital ID by the end of next year. Colorado residents also cannot use the digital ID at the airport.

TSA SNACKS 5PKG.transfer_frame_438
(credit: CBS)

"If you're flying or driving, have your physical ID with you, but for any other interaction with state agencies, the digital ID will be valid," said Polis.

He also emphasized that for the foreseeable future, you will still be able to obtain and use a physical ID if that's preferred.

LINK: myColorado

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