In February 2022, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for standard Massachusetts driver's licenses. Documents not written in English must be submitted with a certified translation. .arguments-bm-widget li { All rights reserved, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, MA Senate GOP Leader Will Press For Driver Privilege Cards' for Immigrants, Mass. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. [8][4], The following is the argument in opposition to Question 4 found in the Official Voter Information Guide:[9], Ballotpedia identified one committee registered in support of a 'yes' vote on Question 4: Yes for Work and Family Mobility. A bill to allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses in Massachusetts is all but law Thursday, passing the Senate with a large enough margin to overrule a veto from Gov.. Ballotpedia identified the following media editorial boards as taking positions on the referendum. BURRELL: Statewide, police in New York used to arrest about 57,000 people a year for unlicensed driving. .sbtotaltable th { John Milligan, of Fair and Secure Massachusetts, expands on this in his argument explaining the No vote published by the Secretary of States office: In his veto message of this bill, Governor Charlie Baker made it known that the Registry of Motor Vehicles does not have the capability or expertise necessary to verify documents from other countries and notes that, if this bill becomes law, Massachusetts drivers licenses will no longer confirm that a person is who they say they are.Additionally, Governor Baker states the bill specifically restricts the Registrys ability to share citizenship information with entities responsible for ensuring only citizens register to vote and vote in our elections, significantly increasing the likelihood that noncitizens will register to vote. Elections in 2023 | 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. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston. See20 CFR 655.120(b)(4). This law allows Massachusetts residents who cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain a standard drivers license or learners permit if they meet all the other qualifications for a standard license or learners permit, including a road test and insurance, and provide proof of their identity, date of birth, and residency. color:white !important; Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Supporters of the Work and Family Mobility Act have said allowing undocumented residents to obtain licenses is a common sense public safety measure to make sure more drivers are properly trained on the rules of the road. The act became a law in June after the House and Senate both voted to override Gov. } Democratic-controlled General Court overrides Gov. width: 50%; A "yes" would uphold the current law to allow immigrants to obtain licenses, while a "no" vote would reject the new law. The new law, if not rejected by voters, will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. Its a critical tool of mobility in Massachusetts. Firearms The Massachusetts House passed legislation Wednesday that opens a pathway for some undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in the state, a move advocates say would make roads safer for all motorists and opponents argue rewards people for entering the country illegally. 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. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. But on Wednesday, a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses passed a first-ever vote in the House, 120-36. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. We have an urgent need for labor in this state. The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday voted in favor of a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses. Charlie Baker, but shortly afterwards, a committee called Fair and Secure Massachusetts mobilized to get a referendum on the ballot and put the question to voters. Applicants under the bill would need to provide proof of their identity, date of birth and residency in Massachusetts. The effort ultimately received more than enough support to make the ballot. The governors office noted in the summer of 2016 that state lawmakers ultimately adopted legislation that included Bakers bipartisan amendment to make explicit that both a REAL ID-compliant license and a Massachusetts license will only be issued to individuals with proof of lawful presence, ensuring undocumented immigrants do not obtain either type of license under the new system.. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. We urgently need to have [undocumented immigrants] drive legally, safely, insured and registered.. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. "People that are in the country illegally should not be rewarded for their behavior by getting a driver's license.". Follow us so you don't miss a thing! Standing alongside her is Roxana Rivera, vice president of 32BJ SEIU, who led the push for the law with Reason. You can try, With Senate override vote, driver's license bill becomes law, House votes to override Baker's veto of licensing bill, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. -moz-columns: 2; .split-cols-bm { However, voters will be asked to show ID in the following circumstances: The following list of accepted ID was current as of November 2022. "But for many immigrants, it serves as a barrier to being able to put food on the table or care for their families.. 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. The campaign received endorsements from ACLU of Massachusetts and SEIU of Massachusetts. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Charles Baker's (R) veto of bill regarding driver's license and vehicle registration applications, States issuing driver's licenses to immigrants who cannot provide proof of lawful presence, Oregon Alternative Driver Licenses Referendum, Measure 88 (2014), Massachusetts veto referendum ballot measures, recently scheduled reports processed by Ballotpedia, Campaign finance requirements for Massachusetts ballot measures, List of Massachusetts veto referendum ballot measures, Massachusetts Question 3: Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination, Massachusetts Question 4: Market for Electric Utilities, Massachusetts Question 2: Require Use of Seat Belts in Motor Vehicles, Massachusetts Question 2: Methods of Levying Fees for Nonpartisan Student Organizations, Massachusetts Question 4: Increase Salaries of Government Officials, Massachusetts Question 4: Require Use of Seat Belts in Motor Vehicles, Massachusetts Question 4: Bottle and Can Regulations, Massachusetts Question 5: Creation of Three Percent Sales Tax, Massachusetts Question 6: Increase Salaries of State Legislators, Massachusetts Question 2: Increase Salaries of State Legislators, Massachusetts Question 5: Non-Profits Allowed to Conduct Games of Chance, Massachusetts Question 1: Regulation of Animal Trapping, Massachusetts Question 4: Gas Tax Increase, Massachusetts Question 5: Regulation of Foregin Banking, Massachusetts Question 3: Prohibition of Alcohol Production and Transportation, Massachusetts Question 2: Tort Liability for Voluntary Organizations, Massachusetts Question 5: District Attorney Candidates Required to be Lawyers, Massachusetts Question 3: Empower State to Censor Movies, Massachusetts Question 4: State Alcohol Prohibition, Massachusetts Question 2: Interst on Bank Savings, Laws governing the referendum process in Maryland, Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States, Click here for the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information, Fair and Secure Massachusetts campaign website, Fair and Secure Massachusetts Facebook page, Fair and Secure Massachusetts Twitter page, "WGBH", "Mass. Governor Baker supports existing laws in Massachusetts, enacted on a bipartisan basis, that ensure Massachusetts compliance with federal REAL ID requirements and enable those who demonstrate lawful presence in the United States to obtain a license, Terry MacCormack, a spokesman for the governor, told MassLive on Tuesday. Driving is not a luxury, Roman said. BOSTON (AP) Massachusetts voters will get the chance to decide whether the state should reject a new law allowing immigrants in the country illegally to obtain state driver's licenses. They will not be able to get a REAL ID. Cities | Massachusetts senators passed a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to receive drivers' licenses. 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. At least 16 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, allow residents to get a driver's license or permit regardless of immigration status, supporters say. A "yes" vote was to uphold House Bill4805, which allows applicants who cannot verify citizenship or immigration status to submit certain forms of identification to obtain a drivers license or motor vehicle registration. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. We are a country of rules and laws, the committees website states. The Secretary of State's officehas certified the number of signaturesneeded to put the repeal efforton the ballot. "[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. 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. He noted that law enforcement officials have endorsed the ballot question for this reason. Massachusetts does not require voters to present identification (ID) while voting, in most cases.[27]. [3] By Samantha J. The early voting period for Massachusetts begins on Saturday. Just look at the hiring signs and the ads. Ballotpedia features 395,437 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. 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. Prior to joining the Idaho Capital Sun he reported for the Idaho Falls Post Register and Idaho Education News. It received endorsements from Gov. 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. For that reason, some law enforcement leaders have backed the measure, including the Massachusetts Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association. Democratic state Sen. Brendan Crighton, of Lynn, in a debate on the ballot question on GBHs Greater Boston earlier this month, said hit-and-run incidents have decreased in those states after the laws were put in place. 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. Another 39.2 percent said they would vote against the law, while 4.2 percent remained undecided. Constitutional rights The overwhelming majority of bills that advance out of Idaho legislative committees are sent to the floor with recommendations the bills pass. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. Under the bill (H 4805) expanded access to standard driver's license would begin on July 1, 2023. Opponents of the bill said, under H 4805, it would be difficult for the Registry of Motor Vehicles to verify foreign documents and that the bill would permit noncitizens to vote. Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director Lenita Reason, center, delivers remarks around midnight rallying supporters of the ballot question. McMahon also argued fatal crashes have risen in states that have passed similar legislation. The measure is due for a new report from the Joint Committee on Transportation by March 4. Baker vetoed H 4805 on May 27, 2022. } Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. This breaking news story will be updated. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. State legislature | } Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on: To submit a media editorial for inclusion, email editor@ballotpedia.org. Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Massachusetts. Like driver safety, it impacts all of us, she said. All rights reserved, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, MA Senate GOP Leader Will Press For Driver Privilege Cards' for Immigrants, Mass. To prove identity and date of birth, the law requires an applicant to present at least two documents, one from each of the following categories: (1) a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired Consular Identification document; and (2) a valid unexpired drivers license from any United States 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. }, 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. font-weight:bold; The Senate voted 32-8 Thursday. Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. Lawmakers backing the move say it. Massachusetts is one of the first states to put repeal of the law to a vote. The committee reported $3.6 million in contributions. In 2022, Rhode Island became the most recent state to enact legislation extending driver's licenses and identification cards to those without proof of lawful presence (SB 2006/HB 7939). For a job order subject to the 2022 Final Rule, if the adjusted AEWR is lower than the rate guaranteed on the job order, the employer must continue to pay at least the rate guaranteed on the job order. Jay McMahon is urging voters to reject the ballot question and vote "no." GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. margin-bottom: 10px; The new law will extend driving privileges to an estimated 45,000-85,000 people over the next three years, according to MassBudget. Massachusetts voterswill decide this November whether to overturna new lawthat makes undocumented immigrantseligible for driver's licenses. } Idaho's bill would create a new driver's . Korman added that farm workers without licenses are at higher risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, as they often must share vehicles or ask for rides over 20- to 30-minute commutes in rural areas where bus routes are slow and infrequent. Senate overrides Baker veto: Undocumented immigrants will be able to get driver's licenses," June 9, 2022, "Office of the Governor", "Message from His Excellency the Governor returning with his objections thereto in writing the engrossed Bill relative to work and family mobility (see House, No. Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, pushed to send the bill to the Senate floor without recommendation, acknowledging that her motion was unusual and could be viewed as the committee abdicating its responsibility to vet legislation and make a clear recommendation. Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Boston. Federal courts | Jay McMahon, of Fair and Secure Massachusetts, and Sen. Brendan Crighton, of Safer Roads Massachusetts, debated the measure on Greater Boston. The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 10, and the FRE is 61. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance reported spending $12,858.92 in opposition to Question 4. V oters will decide on four ballot questions in the 2022 Massachusetts elections on Nov. 8. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. There is already a process in place where anyone in our country legally on a work visa can obtain a valid Idaho drivers license through the sheriffs office.. 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. [10][11],

After implementing a similar law, Connecticut saw a reduction of hit-and run crashes, and a decline in the number of people found guilty of unlicensed driving, an investigation by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting found. Laws we must follow to ensure a fair, safe, and functional society. The illegal immigrant population of the United States peaked by 2007, when it was at 12.2 million and 4% of the total U.S. population. If the Idaho Senate passes the bill, it would be sent to the Idaho House of Representatives for consideration. If the law is not overturned by voters, it will go into effect next July. "The Registry of Motor Vehicles, who are going to be in charge of this, has no authority under any federal constitution or federal law to grant legitimacy to people who are otherwise in the country illegally," McMahon said. Opponents of the law, backed by MassGOP President Jim Lyons, launched a repeal effort and garnered enough signatures to put the new law to a vote in yesterdays election. "Ensuring all Massachusetts drivers meet the necessary identification, registration and testing requirements for driving just simply makes the roads safer,"Sekhavat said. 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. In April, several mayors testified on Beacon Hill in support of the law, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, who is now the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. But Trackels motion failed on a tie vote. }, .arguments-bm-widget { On June 27, 2022, the referendum was cleared for signature gathering. .ballot-measure-endorsements td { width: 35% !important;} In the Senate, the override passed by a 32-8 margin, with 32 Democrats voting to override and five Democrats joining all three Republicans to sustain Bakers veto. I think the answer to that is yes.. U.S. President | 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. -moz-columns: 1; Massachusetts also requires other organizations that spend money to support or oppose ballot measures to report amounts to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. He said despite a decline in hit-and-runs, fatal crashes are up. 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. Voters will weigh in on the question during the general elections on Nov. 8. A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses has passed the Massachusetts Senate. "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 breath and have a sigh of relief," bill supporters Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat, said earlier this month. The committee reported over $217,135 in contributions. The group contends the law helps protect public safety through ensuring all drivers learn and are properly vetted for safe driving practices. Massachusetts Gov. 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. McMahon also noted issues with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and its capacity to vet foreign documents. According to Yes on 4, 17 other states have enacted similar laws. 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. No more than one-quarter of the certified signatures on initiative or referendum petitions may come from any one county. It's about making our roads safer, making sure that everybody has to pass a road test and vision test and get insurance and to get a license in the Commonwealth.". Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. On September 7, 2022, nearly 80,000 of the 100,000 signatures filed with local clerks were verified and submitted to the secretary of state. It also bars officials at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about, or creating a record of, an applicants citizenship or immigration status, and enables those without proof of lawful presence, including residents ineligible for social security numbers, to be eligible for a license if they meet all other qualifications for licensure and provide satisfactory proof to the registrar of identity, date of birth and Massachusetts residency.. Charlie Baker's veto of a bill that would allow immigrants in the country illegally to obtain state. Otherwise, committees usually kill a bill by voting to hold it. 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. Defenders of the law have coalesced into the Yes on 4 For Safer Roads campaign in the build-up to the Nov. 8 election. The push to expand access to drivers licenses to qualified immigrants without legal status continues to gain momentum as public health professionals, business leaders, advocates and lawmakers this session hope to make Massachusetts the 17th state with such a law in the books after years of debate. Essential workers have served in critical and heroic front-line conditions during this terrible pandemic, but have been left out to dry when it comes to their commutes, argued Fish, who also spoke as chairman of the Fish Family Foundation, which works with dozens of immigrant-facing nonprofits across the U.S. Leaving the moral and philanthropic cases aside, I want to speak as a businessman, Fish added. The secretary of state wrote the ballot language for this measure. "The Ed Trust report shines a light on the reforms necessary to provide equity for the more than 427,000 undocumented students seeking a higher education, a pathway to citizenship, and economic mobility. Whether or not the state should follow through the controversial law will go before the people as Question 4 on this Novembers ballot, following a successful GOP-backed initiative to bring the matter to voters. Research also showed Utah and New Mexico saw decreases in their rates of uninsured drivers by as much as 80 percent and 60 percent, respectively, following passage of their laws, according to the report. Why it matters: Massachusetts is home to more than 200,000 immigrants without legal status, according to the Migration Policy Institute. I know it is a unique motion. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios. text-align:center; You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Undocumented applicants will have to show at least two official forms of ID for a driver's license and prove that they live in Massachusetts. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. The state Senate picked up the bill, too, before Baker vetoed it in May. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org, On June 9, 2022, the Massachusetts General Court overrode Gov.