Voting Yes on 4 is just common sense: all of us will be safer if all drivers on the road pass a driving test, have insurance and have a license, association president and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque said in a statement shared by the Yes campaign. No more than one-quarter of the certified signatures on initiative or referendum petitions may come from any one county. .split-cols-bm { In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required to qualify a veto referendum for the ballot is equal to 1.5 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. Retired Meridian Police Chief Jeff Lavey told the Senate Transportation Committee that members of the Idaho Sheriffs Association voted unanimously to oppose the bill to create a restricted drivers license. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Clark Corbin has more than a decade of experience covering Idaho government and politics. Alexi Cohan is a producer on Greater Boston. . Massachusetts Question 4, Remove Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status for Driver's License Applications Referendum (2022). In this section, Ballotpedia does not include opinion pieces written by individuals or groups that do not represent the official position of a newspaper or media outlet. The RMV has been issuing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants since 2016, which allows them to drive legally and have access to other necessary services. First up is legislation known as the Restore the Vote bill, having passed the "UndocuGrads: Navigating Graduate School as an Undocumented Student" 2019 Public Policy and International Affairs Program: Open to Undocumented Students; 2018-2019 Peer Engagement and Enrichment Program (PEEP) for Undocumented Students .sbtotalheader { The campaign has until August 24, 2022, to file signatures. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Driving is not a luxury, Roman said. Like driver safety, it impacts all of us, she said. Here is what you need to know about Question 4, regarding eligibility for driver's licenses. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The bill now has more co-sponsors than previous versions, as well as strong support from law enforcement agencies and hundreds of health care workers, according to a coalition of labor, business and public health leaders who held a virtual news conference Tuesday. Shortly after lawmakers overrode the governors veto, a state Republican Party committee member with backing from GOP gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl and the state party Chairman Jim Lyons filed paperwork to start the ballot question process to repeal the law. If the law is not overturned by voters, it will go into effect next July. Brad Little's 2023 State of the State, Republicans sweep statewide, federal offices in Idahos, Whos who in the GOP race to be Idahos next secretary of. At the time of the election, 17 statesCalifornia, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washingtonand Washington, D.C., had enacted laws authorizing the issuance of driver's licenses to immigrants who cannot provide proof of lawful or authorized presence. The ballot measure was approved, thus upholding the legislation. Under the law, a person can obtain a drivers license or learners permit in Massachusetts so long as they pass a road test, meet all other qualifications, and provide proof of their identity, date of birth, and residency. Under the bill (H 4805) expanded access to standard driver's license would begin on July 1, 2023. I know it is a unique motion. The committee reported $3.6 million in contributions. Should the measure be signed into law, Massachusetts would become the 16th state to provide illegal immigrants with the opportunity to get a driver's license - joining California, New York, Utah . Massachusetts voterswill decide this November whether to overturna new lawthat makes undocumented immigrantseligible for driver's licenses. We urgently need to have [undocumented immigrants] drive legally, safely, insured and registered.. U.S. President | The registrar of motor vehicles cannot ask or create a record of the citizenship or immigration status of the applicant, and applications cannot be used to obtain the federally-recognized Real ID. But Jim Lyons, chair of the state Republican Party, argues driving is a privilege, not a right. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. width: 100%; Sixteen states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., allow undocumented immigrants to receive driver's licenses or similar IDs known as driving privilege cards, eliminating the chance of arrest for driving without a license, a common fast-track to deportation. She is from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and currently lives in the Boston area. Charlie Baker on Friday vetoed a bill making immigrants without legal status eligible to seek state-issued driver's licenses, saying the Registry of Motor Vehicles, an agency that he oversees, doesn't have the ability to verify the identities of potential applicants. The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday voted in favor of a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. Any other government document displaying the voter's name and address. The committee collected over 100,000 signatures to place the veto referendum on the ballot. But this bill should be signed His (Bakers) concerns are baseless. Massachusetts is one of the first states to put repeal of the law to a vote. (WWLP) - Question 4 asks voters whether they want to uphold or overturn a new state law expanding eligibility for driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. }, The following is the argument in support of Question 4 found in the Official Voter Information Guide:[7], Fair and Secure Massachusetts led the campaign in support of a 'no' vote on Question 4. [16] In his veto message, Baker said: A standard Massachusetts drivers license will no longer confirm that a person is who they say they are [and the bill] restricts the Registrys ability to share citizenship information with those entities responsible for ensuring that only citizens register for and vote in our elections.[17][6]. Following years of advocacy for the bill, House and Senate Democrats on Thursday enacted the legislation, which supporters say will make the roads safer by granting access to licenses for many undocumented immigrants who are already living throughout the state. At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a driver's license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. The bill passed by a slim margin in the heavily Democratic state, which was on the receiving end of a plane full of migrants who were sent to the state by Florida Gov. The law also requires the registrar and the Secretary of the Commonwealth to establish procedures and regulations to ensure that an applicant for a standard drivers license or learners permit who does not provide proof of lawful presence will not be automatically registered to vote, the Secretary of States office says. In 2019, the Oregon State Legislature adopted a similar law that is still in effect. }, The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the measure.Cite error: Invalid tag; invalid names, e.g. Speaking in support, the bill's sponsor, Sen. Adam Gomez (D), said: Allowing parents to drive their kids to school, take them to doctor's appointments or be in charge of carpooling to take their kids to soccer, all without the concern they may be separated if they are pulled over, will allow children of undocumented immigrants to breathe and have a sigh of relief.[15][6]. margin-bottom: 0 !important; Earlier this year, Secretary of State William Galvin, the states top election official, rebuked Bakers argument though, telling MassLive what the governor is saying makes absolutely no sense at all., Weve definitely spoken with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and we can solve any concern there is about this, Galvin said of the automatic voter registration law. They will not be able to get a REAL ID. Its really just not right.. Elections in 2023 | DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. Immigrants can get a license in the United States in most states, but it depends on the state they live in and their immigration status. The new law will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a standard state driver's license beginning July 1, 2023. American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. "[1], The proposed law prohibited registrars from inquiring about an applicants citizenship or immigration status when applying for a driver's license or motor vehicle registration. Roman, and Dr. Beth Eagleson of Baystate Health in Springfield, said current fears of getting pulled over, arrested or discriminated against leads to public health and educational hurdles, as some workers avoid or delay doctors appointments, COVID-19 testing, getting vaccinated or attending parent-teacher conferences. On June 27, 2022, the referendum was cleared for signature gathering. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. battersea power station webcam; maine real estate transfer tax exemptions It looks like a bid to repeal a Massachusetts law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses will make it on to the November ballot. The campaign received endorsements from ACLU of Massachusetts and SEIU of Massachusetts. The law, which goes into effect next summer, allows . Only about 7 percent of those polled were unsure of how they felt about the law. Republican opposition to the bill was steady throughout its journey through the Legislature, and officeholders and candidates at the GOP convention last weekend in Springfield sporadically and pointedly expressed their opposition to the proposal. We have an urgent need for labor in this state. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is poised to sign a pair of bills that recently passed the state Senate which restore the voting rights of convicted felons immediately upon release and grant the ability for illegal immigrants to obtain a driver's license. Maureen Maloney, one of the sponsors of the veto referendum, said, "I do not think that we should be rewarding people for being in the country illegally. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. During Tuesdays hearing, the organization PODER of Idaho presented a petition with 8,000 signatures supporting the bill to create a restricted drivers license. Massachusetts Ballot Question 4 seeks to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license while also setting up regulations to ensure they are not automatically registered to vote. To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state. by Clark Corbin, Idaho Capital Sun February 28, 2023. The governor said the bill "restricts the Registry's ability to share citizenship information with those entities responsible for ensuring that only citizens register for and vote in our elections.". On September 9, 2022, the secretary of state announced that the campaign had submitted 71,883 valid signatures qualifying the referendum for the ballot. He has covered every Idaho legislative session since 2011 gavel-to-gavel. A "yes" vote on Question 4 will preserve the Massachusetts law that allows people living in the U.S. without authorization to apply for driver's licenses starting next July. The law would require the registrar and Secretary of State to establish regulations ensuring undocumented immigrants who get a drivers license will not be automatically registered to vote. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. "UndocuGrads: Navigating Graduate School as an Undocumented Student" 2019 Public Policy and International Affairs Program: Open to Undocumented Students; 2018-2019 Peer Engagement and Enrichment Program (PEEP) for Undocumented Students GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. We couldn't do it without you. Larry Fish, chairman of the Board of Directors for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and former CEO of Citizens Bank, noted that the immigrant and undocumented community is being pushed away from places near economic opportunities as a result of the extremely high cost of housing.. Last week, Senate President Karen Spilka said that as a granddaughter of immigrants, she has been a long-time supporter of the Work and Family Mobility Act and is pleased to see it move forward. Examples of acceptable identification include: a driver's license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter's name and address. He said despite a decline in hit-and-runs, fatal crashes are up. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. We have some proposals that would address them, even as baseless as they are.. The bill required the second document to be a valid unexpired drivers license from any U.S. state or territory, an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, a valid unexpired foreign national identification card, a valid unexpired foreign drivers license, or a marriage certificate or divorce decree issued by any state or territory of the United States. A long-debated proposal to expand driver's license access to undocumented immigrants took a major step Thursday toward becoming law, clearing the Massachusetts Senate with a strong enough margin to overcome the prospect of Gov. The vote margin was 66% to repeal the law, and 34% to uphold the law. Applicants must also attest, under threat of perjury, their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction. Senate to Debate Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants This Week, Even After Investigation, Stoneham Cop Hasn't Paid Dime of Rent to New Landlord, Tracking the Next Hit of Wintry Weather Headed to New England, Due Late Week, Rescuers Capture Bald Eagle Believed to Be Critically Sickened by Rat Poison, Power Lines Crash Onto Cars, Trucks for Blocks in Stoneham. Otherwise, committees usually kill a bill by voting to hold it. Providing licenses to qualified applicants, regardless of immigration status would ensure more drivers are tested, that they know the rules of the road and comply with mandatory insurance laws, while also serving as a step toward racial equity, Fitzpatrick added. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. See20 CFR 655.120(b)(4). Why it matters: Massachusetts is home to more than 200,000 immigrants without legal status, according to the Migration Policy Institute. This isnt an immigration issue. Ballot measures, Who represents me? Senate to Debate Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants This Week, Even After Investigation, Stoneham Cop Hasn't Paid Dime of Rent to New Landlord, Tracking the Next Hit of Wintry Weather Headed to New England, Due Late Week, Rescuers Capture Bald Eagle Believed to Be Critically Sickened by Rat Poison, Power Lines Crash Onto Cars, Trucks for Blocks in Stoneham. Question 4 on Massachusetts' 2022 general election ballots asks voters if the state should keep or repeal its new law allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses beginning next year . It's high time that we let undocumented immigrants live without fear and start honoring their many contributions. The documents required to obtain a driver's license varied by state but included a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport, or consular card along with evidence of current residency in the state. In both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, applicants for driver's licenses will be required to provide proof of identity as well as proof of residency through documents like an unexpired foreign passport or an original birth certificate. However, municipalities may open their polls as early as 5:45 a.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. To apply for a license, someone without legal presence would need to provide the Registry of Motor Vehicles with a foreign passport or a consular identification document as well as at least one. Any information or communication provided by an applicant to the registrar of motor vehicles, including not providing proof of lawful presence, would not be considered public record nor be disclosed by the registrar, except as required by federal law.[1]. Another 39.2 percent said they would vote against the law, while 4.2 percent remained undecided. In Massachusetts, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You are voting for the first time in Massachusetts in a federal election; You are casting a provisional or challenged ballot; The poll worker has a reasonable suspicion that leads them to request identification. } The law requires that applicants for a drivers license or learners permit shall attest, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction. Individuals classified as treaty traders are among the eligible individuals for a New Jersey driver's license.It is a temporary worker who is accompanying the spouses and children of their employer. display: inline; He said 17 other states have implemented similar laws and hit-and-run accidents have decreased significantly. Who was behind the campaigns in favor of a 'yes' or 'no' vote? Firearms States issuing driver's licenses to immigrants who cannot provide proof of lawful presence. Jay McMahon is urging voters to reject the ballot question and vote "no." More News Alden-Conger's spring . And by barring residents without status from accessing drivers licenses, the commonwealth is creating barriers to full inclusion, economic stability and better health.. Beginning in April 2021, undocumented immigrants in New Jersey will be able to obtain driver's licenses. dosel significado segun la biblia. Shearer repeated the department's mission statement and goals before launching into the numbers for 2022. Fausto Menard Twitter Producer, All Things ConsideredFausto Menard is a producer for WBUR's All Things Considered. Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and Twitter. This has nothing to do with immigration. How to vote | Summary of Proposed Changes to the AEWR Methodology and the Changes Adopted in This Final Rule I am still wrestling with this, and my recommendation is not an indication of potential support on the floor, Den Hartog said during Tuesdays meeting. Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration. COVID strikes, the national food supply chain is rattled, and we momentarily wake up in our state and declare farm workers are sometimes essential when we need the fruits of their labor, Philip Korman, executive director of the nonprofit Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, said Tuesday. The bill calls for striking language in state law that blocks residents who do not have lawful presence in the United States from obtaining a license of any type in Massachusetts. Can Undocumented Immigrants Get A Driver's License In Massachusetts. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, undocumented immigrants can get a driver's license in 18 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The group said the proposal would improve public health, equity and road safety ensuring tens of thousands more drivers are road-tested and commuting to work, school and doctors visits safely, legally and without fear of arrest over their status. Support GBH. Ballotpedia lists the positions of and excerpts from editorials supporting or opposing ballot measures from the editorial boards of certain media outlets. 100% remote. In hisveto message, Baker said the legislation "significantly increases the risk that noncitizens will be registered to vote," a possibility that bill supporters have refuted. Its about making our roads safer, making sure that everybody has to pass a road test and vision test to get a license in the Commonwealth.. The new law will extend driving privileges to an estimated 45,000-85,000 people over the next three years, according to MassBudget. We cant keep telling them theyre essential and at the same time deny them the right to drive.. Undocumented immigrants driver's license law question likely to appear on November ballot A "yes" vote would keep the law in place, allowing undocumented immigrants a pathway to. Visually, the restricted drivers licenses would be oriented vertically, instead of horizontally, Guthrie said. To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here. New: With 32 votes in the affirmative to eight in the negative, @MA_Senate passes a bill allowing undocumented Immigrants to get drivers licenses @NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/A02E6xmqXK. Under the law, called the Work and Family Mobility Act, those who entered the country illegally will be able to apply for a drivers license with certain documents, like a foreign passport or consular identification paperwork. By Samantha J. A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses has passed the Massachusetts Senate. We cannot reward people who broke our laws to be here., The committee argues the law would attract more immigrants without legal status to the Bay State and would also place election integrity at risk by opening a backdoor for undocumented immigrants to use a drivers license to vote.. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Evening Report - Tue., Feb 28, 2023 - More Ed Savings Account Proposals / Restricted Drivers Licenses for Undocumented in Idaho - KRFP, Radio Free Moscow Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, sponsored Senate Bill 1081, which would create the new restricted drivers license anyone 16 or older who resides in Idaho could obtain, regardless of whether they have a Social Security number. Support local journalism by becoming a member. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Senate Bill 1081 could reach the Senate floor for a vote by the end of this week. Massachusetts requires a two-thirds majority in the General Court to override a veto. .sbtotaltotal { But Trackels motion failed on a tie vote. For that reason, some law enforcement leaders have backed the measure, including the Massachusetts Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association. It received endorsements from Gov. too many, The following were the top donors who contributed to the committees in support of the measure.Cite error: Invalid tag; invalid names, e.g. DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS The House, 120-36, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would allow people who are unable to prove lawful presence in the United States to. At the time of the override vote, Democrats held such a majority. The early voting period for Massachusetts begins on Saturday. font-weight:bold; The law was designed to take effect on July 1, 2023. Charlie Baker previously expressing opposition. Farm owners, he said, have long relied on the worst of Band-Aid solutions off-the-record agreements with local police chiefs to help prevent their workers from being pulled over. Apply today! Thank you! The act became a law in June after the House and Senate both voted to override Gov. Under current legislation, undocumented immigrants are not allowed to have a license in Massachusetts. emphasis on political coverage within a state; and, Signature requirement: 1.5 percent of the gubernatorial vote for a referendum or 2 percent of the gubernatorial vote to also suspend the law, Allows for veto referendums on emergency legislation, Successful veto referendum petitions may or may not suspend the targeted law until the election depending on the number of valid signatures submitted. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. The bill was then. Voters in Massachusetts may be asked whether to repeal state law granting standard Massachusetts driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants in November. the state House of Representatives voted to pass the bill in February. [13] In lieu of citizenship or immigration information, the bill allowed registrars to accept two documents that prove the date of birth and identity of the applicant, including foreign passports, birth certificates, or consular identification documents.[14].