The fundamental challenge of government e-signatures is identity: how do you know the person signing is who they claim to be, when the "customer" is literally any member of the public?
Tiered identity verification based on transaction risk:
Not every government transaction requires the same level of identity assurance. Apply NIST SP 800-63 Identity Assurance Levels (IALs) proportionally:
IAL1 — Self-asserted identity (minimal verification)
Suitable for: public information requests, newsletter signups, event registrations, public comment submissions, park campsite reservations
Implementation: email verification or social login; collect name and contact info but don't verify against authoritative sources
IAL2 — Remote identity proofing (moderate verification)
Suitable for: permit applications, benefits enrollment, tax filings, vehicle registration renewals, professional license renewals
Implementation: document verification (upload of driver's license or passport) with automated authenticity checks + one of: knowledge-based verification (KBA), phone verification to a number on record, or video selfie matching to the ID photo
IAL3 — In-person or supervised remote proofing (high verification)
Suitable for: real property transactions, felony record expungement, court filings, notarized affidavits
Implementation: in-person identity proofing at a government office or supervised Remote Online Notarization (RON) session with a commissioned notary
Login.gov integration:
Federal agencies should leverage Login.gov — the government's shared authentication platform — for citizen identity verification. Login.gov supports IAL1 and IAL2 verification levels, provides a consistent citizen experience across agencies, and handles the complexity of credential management and fraud detection centrally. State and local agencies can integrate with their own digital identity platforms or explore Login.gov adoption.
Key principle: Never require IAL3 verification for a transaction that only warrants IAL2. Over-verification doesn't improve security — it creates barriers that disproportionately affect elderly, rural, and low-income citizens who have the most difficulty providing extensive identity documentation.