(PIV Card) Physical artifact (e.g., identity card, "smart" card) issued to an individual that contains stored identity credentials (e.g., photograph, cryptographic keys, digitized fingerprint representation, etc.) such that a claimed identity of the cardholder may be verified against the stored credentials by another person (human-readable and verifiable) or an automated process (computer-readable and verifiable). (FIPS 201; CNSSI-4009) (NISTIR)
What does PIV mean?
The term Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Card refers to a U.S. government Personal Identity Verification smart card containing identity credentials used to support physical and logical access to federal facilities and information systems. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
How is personal identity verification (PIV) card used for identity and access?
In practice, Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Card is applied to the technical or security purpose captured by its definition: a U.S. government Personal Identity Verification smart card containing identity credentials used to support physical and logical access to federal facilities and information systems.
What security protections apply to personal identity verification (PIV) card?
Controls for Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Card are selected to protect the function described by the term: a U.S. government Personal Identity Verification smart card containing identity credentials used to support physical and logical access to federal facilities and information systems.
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(PIV Card) Physical artifact (e.g., identity card, "smart" card) issued to an individual that contains stored identity credentials (e.g., photograph, cryptographic keys, digitized fingerprint representation, etc.) such that a claimed identity of the cardholder may be verified against the stored credentials by another person (human-readable and verifiable) or an automated process (computer-readable and verifiable). (FIPS 201; CNSSI-4009) (NISTIR)
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Personal Identity Verification Card. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 22, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/personal-identity-verification-card
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