Either the potential bride or groom must prove that that they have been living in the area for at least a week by supplying proof of address, such as a utility bill, and must provide a passport or ID card and proof of work.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Beating the sham wedding cheats

The process for registering with M-Pesa is very straightforward: it requires a PIN and an official form of identification (a passport or a national ID card) but there is no need for a bank account or a home address.

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The process involves ID verification using a passport, driver's licence with photo-card and a utility bill.

BBC: Losing your identity

Labour MP Neil Gerrard has tabled an amendment to the bill that would make it possible for people to apply for a passport without having to submit their details for the ID cards database.

BBC: NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Kennedy urges ID card opposition

The states' plans require voters to present photo ID like a driver's license or passport to vote, a measure endorsed by the Commission on Federal Election Reform headed by President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker in 2005 to protect the integrity of the ballot.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: Holder's Voter ID Fraud

Particularly with Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) involved: The Redmond, Wash. monopolist made a big early move to try to impose a standard for digital ID, offering a crude version of its Passport service in 1999. (Novell had the digital identity idea even earlier but couldn't find customers).

FORBES: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Look, the data that will be held on computers in respect of ID cards is the data that is already held by everybody for everybody in respect of your passport, with the addition of biometric data, fingerprints for example or irises which ensures better the security of this data.

BBC: Jack Straw MP. photo courtesy Jeff Overs