of State Bill Galvin has said this type of regulation would be feasible to implement. Massachusetts Question 4, Remove Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status for Driver's License Applications Referendum (2022). 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. Lawmakers backing the move say it. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers' license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. Opponents of a new law allowing undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts to receive driver's licenses say they have collected enough signatures to put their repeal question onto November's ballot. The measure is due for a new report from the Joint Committee on Transportation by March 4. 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. .endorsements-header { Guthrie said drivers licenses are a basic necessity and would give all Idahoans 16 and older the opportunity to drive legally. Jay McMahon, of Fair and Secure Massachusetts, and Sen. Brendan Crighton, of Safer Roads Massachusetts, debated the measure on Greater Boston. On September 9, 2022, the secretary of state announced that the campaign had submitted 71,883 valid signatures qualifying the referendum for the ballot. The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 10, and the FRE is 61. 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. columns: 1; 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. .arguments-bm-widget li { Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. The full text of House Bill 4805, which the veto referendum would have overturned, is below:[1]. If the petitioners submit a written request for the suspension of the targeted law prior to the referendum election, signatures equal to 2 percent of the total votes last cast for governor are required to both suspend the law and force an election. Crighton said, however, the statistic is part of a national trend, citing the rising number of deadly crashes over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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]. 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 . Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. It has been endorsed by over 230 organizations, including the Mass. Read Idaho Gov. Massachusetts voters will decide this November whether to overturn a new law that makes undocumented immigrants eligible for driver's licenses. To apply for a driver's license, immigrants will have to show two documents proving their date of birth and identity, like an unexpired foreign passport, consular identification document or certified copy of a birth certificate. Backed by majorities in the Massachusetts House and Senate, the Work & Family Mobility Act was reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Transportation last session but did not come to a final vote, with uncertain support from leadership and Gov. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. U.S. President | 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. Major City Chiefs of Police, as well as dozens of businesses. Applicants must also attest, under threat of perjury, their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction. Too many people in our communities drive in fear every day of being pulled over, detained, then deported. All rights reserved (About Us). .sbtotaltotal { 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. Mar Valdecantos is the director of Rice County Neighbors United/Vecinxs Unidxs . For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. The law, which goes into effect next summer, allows . margin-bottom: 10px; V oters will decide on four ballot questions in the 2022 Massachusetts elections on Nov. 8. Public policy. In Massachusetts, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. } Aug 22, 2022 Category : Government . The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In the GBH debate, the Republican nominee for attorney general, Jay McMahon, who is also a Fair and Secure Massachusetts committee member, said license applicants in Massachusetts are automatically registered to vote when their applications are processed, unless they check a box to opt out of becoming an enrolled voter. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Can Undocumented Immigrants Get A Driver's License In Massachusetts. After a 90-minute hearing, Senate Transportation Committee members were clearly divided. The requirements to get a veto referendum certified for the 2022 ballot: If the 1.5 percent threshold is met, the targeted law is not suspended, but it is put before voters at the next general election to be upheld or rejected. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. The bill was then. 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. Ballotpedia lists the positions of and excerpts from editorials supporting or opposing ballot measures from the editorial boards of certain media outlets. In order for our states police officers to best do their jobs and remain safe while doing so, they need to be able to identify whos behind the wheel, he added. Its a critical tool of mobility in Massachusetts. } 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. too many, The following were the top donors who contributed to the opposition committees.Cite error: Invalid tag; invalid names, e.g. 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. .sbtotaltable td { Charlie Baker has expressed his opposition to the measure, which would allow Massachusetts residents without legal immigration status to apply for a standard state driver's license, provided they show certain documents proving their identity. Sheriffs in general do not feel that issuing this restricted driving card to somebody thats broken potentially broken federal immigration laws is not a good policy for sheriffs, Clearwater County Sheriff Chris Goetz said. PODER of Idaho is an organization that works to empower the Latinx and immigrant communities in the areas of immigrant rights, economic justice, education and social justice. The Secretary of State's office has. [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]. Charlie Baker on the legislation.. How to vote | @media screen and (max-width: 792px) { font-size:1.2em; 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. If a petition seeks to suspend the targeted law and reaches the 2 percent threshold, the targeted law is suspended until the next general election, at which voters decide whether to approve the bill or reject it. The overwhelming majority of bills that advance out of Idaho legislative committees are sent to the floor with recommendations the bills pass. 100% remote. As the state Senate considered the bill this past spring, a Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll found 47 percent of residents surveyed were opposed to the legislation and nearly as many or 46 percent were in favor of it. 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. The overwhelming majority of bills that advance out of Idaho legislative committees are sent to the floor with recommendations the bills pass. As of July 1 2022, 18 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico issue driver's licenses or permits to some or all of the population residing without inspection in the United States. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Elections in 2023 | 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. 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. 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.. BOSTON - The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday joined the House in voting to override Gov. The state is poised to extend driving privileges to an estimated 45,000-85,000 potential drivers over the next three years, according to MassBudget. 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. Do you approve of a law summarized below, which was approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 26, 2022? Question 4 asks voters whether to uphold a new law that allows immigrants without legal status to apply for a Massachusetts driver's license. Additionally, applicants must pass a road test and be in compliance with insurance requirements. 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. In 2014, Oregon voters voted to repeal SB 833, which would have made four-year driver's licenses available to those who cannot prove lawful presence. The state Senate picked up the bill, too, before Baker vetoed it in May. We urgently need to have [undocumented immigrants] drive legally, safely, insured and registered.. Massachusetts voterswill decide this November whether to overturna new lawthat makes undocumented immigrantseligible for driver's licenses. Summary of Proposed Changes to the AEWR Methodology and the Changes Adopted in This Final Rule if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; American Indian issues This makes our roads safer by requiring that everybody follow the same set of rules, Crighton, a sponsor of the law, said. The documents required to obtain a driver's license vary by state but range from a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport, or consular card, and evidence of current residency in the state. Sen. Chris Trakel, R-Caldwell, made an unsuccessful motion to hold the bill in committee for further discussion. A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses has passed the Massachusetts Senate. H 4805 repealed the provision of state law that says, "No license of any type may be issued to any person who does not have lawful presence in the United States. The three-year initiative is called Transforming Narratives of Gun Violence, Effort to repeal immigrant driver's license law hits milestone ahead of ballot deadline, Massachusetts Ballot Question 2: What you need to know about proposed changes for dental insurance, Massachusetts Ballot Question 1: What you need to know about the millionaires tax, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. "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. 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. }, .arguments-bm-widget { The bill cleared both branches with more than enough support to override Baker's veto. Guthrie has worked on the issue for several years and said the focal point of the bill is providing an opportunity for people to obtain a drivers license regardless of their immigration status. The group contends the law helps protect public safety through ensuring all drivers learn and are properly vetted for safe driving practices. 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.". A similar bill has already passed in that House with a veto-proof majority. A poll of 500 registered voters conducted by Suffolk University, the Boston Globe, NBC 10 Boston, and Telemundo released on Oct. 18 showed 56.4 percent of respondents said they would vote Yes on Question 4. 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.. Any other government document displaying the voter's name and address. What happens when providers turn to medication first? Another 39.2 percent said they would vote against the law, while 4.2 percent remained undecided. Crighton said residents should vote "yes" in the interest of safety. Crighton countered, and said that was a national trend and had nothing to do with undocumented immigrants getting licenses. While advocates continually push for accessible, affordable public transit across the board, we know this just isnt true everywhere or for everyone, creating gaps that require many undocumented immigrants to get on the roads for work or to help their families, she said. It received endorsements from Gov. And by barring residents without status from accessing drivers licenses, the commonwealth is creating barriers to full inclusion, economic stability and better health.. Firearms We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. On June 13, 2022, Maureen Maloney and Kevin Dube filed the referendum with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance to create the Fair And Secure Massachusetts committee. Sarang Sekhavat, with the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said the law benefits immigrants and society as a whole. [3] The act became a law in June after the House and Senate both voted to override Gov. A "no" vote would . To apply for a drivers license, immigrants will have to show two documents proving their date of birth and identity, like an unexpired foreign passport, consular identification document or certified copy of a birth certificate. [18] The House voted 119-36 to override the veto, with eight Democrats joining all 28 Republicans to sustain the veto. Tobacco, What's on my ballot? Charlie Baker's formal opposition. During Tuesday's hearing, the organization PODER of Idaho presented a petition with 8,000 signatures supporting the bill to create a restricted driver's license. This bill would enable all qualified state residents to apply for a standard state driver's license, regardless of immigrant status, while keeping our Commonwealth in full compliance with REAL ID requirements. For 2022, there was a total of 21,658 calls for service, compared to 21,593 for 2021. Mass. The campaign has until August 24, 2022, to file signatures. 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. Business regulation He said despite a decline in hit-and-runs, fatal crashes are up. ICE is using facial recognition software to target undocumented immigrants in Maryland by conducting unauthorized searches of state-issued driver's licenses. margin-bottom: 0 !important; The campaign received endorsements from ACLU of Massachusetts and SEIU of Massachusetts. Those states that have adopted this policy are highlighted in blue below:[2]. Laws we must follow to ensure a fair, safe, and functional society. Massachusetts Question 4, the Remove Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status for Driver's License Applications Referendum, was on the ballot in Massachusetts as a veto referendum on November 8, 2022. H 4805 required one of the documents to be either a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired Consular Identification document. This issue has for years been caught in the undertow of. Charlie Baker's veto of its passage. We have an urgent need for labor in this state.

   .sbtotaltable { 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. 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. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), GOP-backed initiative to bring the matter to voters. The sad thing is, we want members of our community who are essential workers to be there when we need them, but were perpetuating an obstacle to their ability to drive to work legally by not passing this law, Fitzpatrick said.   Prior to joining the Idaho Capital Sun he reported for the Idaho Falls Post Register and Idaho Education News. The Elections and Voting page, run by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. 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. }  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. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance reported spending $12,858.92 in opposition to Question 4.  GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. 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. BOSTON (CBS) - The Senate passed a bill that would give immigrants without legal status a pathway to obtain a Massachusetts driver's license.        text-align:center; 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. and last updated 9:36 AM, Nov 09, 2022. McMahon cast doubt on the RMVs ability to handle differentiating between  citizens and non-citizens. .split-cols-bm { Charles D. Baker (R), Gubernatorial Candidate Geoff Diehl (R), and State Representatives Colleen Garry (D) and Marc Lombardo (R). [10][11], 
 In Massachusetts, undocumented immigrants are eligible to apply for a driver's license. In 2019, the Oregon State Legislature adopted a similar law that is still in effect. We have some proposals that would address them, even as baseless as they are.. Follow us so you don't miss a thing!  Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. The Secretary of State's officehas certified the number of signaturesneeded to put the repeal efforton the ballot. [3] [4] Estimates in 2016 put the number of unauthorized immigrants at 10.7 million, representing 3.3% of the total U.S. population. They do not support issuing the drivers license to those that are in our country illegally, Lavey said. They cant even suspend licenses from people when theyre supposed to, he said. [24], To vote in Massachusetts, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day. All rights reserved, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, MA Senate GOP Leader Will Press For Driver Privilege Cards' for Immigrants, Mass. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence.    .sbtotalheader { Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. I think the answer to that is yes.. margin-bottom: 5px !important; McMahon also noted issues with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and its capacity to vet foreign documents. One committee was registered in support of a 'no' vote on Question 4: Fair and Secure Massachusetts. All were gathered for the Driver Privilege For All forum, hosted by The city of Central Falls, in collaboration with Fuerza Laboral (Power of Workers) and the Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island. 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. 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. Applicants under the bill would need to provide proof of their identity, date of birth and residency in Massachusetts. Massachusetts senators passed a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to receive drivers' licenses.