Question 4 would allow undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts to obtain a drivers license or learners permit if they meet all necessary requirements such as a road test, proof of identity and residency. We couldn't do it without you. Senators have described the differences in the House and Senate versions as technical in nature and have said they will make sure they have sufficient votes for an override as well. Charlie Baker on the legislation.. "The rule of law matters," Lyons said. 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. In this, I think we might need the wisdom of the whole body as we debate and deliberate this.. }, .arguments-bm-widget { 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. California saw a similar drop of up to 10 percent per year. 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. Navigating Research with Undocumented Immigrants as an Undocumented Immigrant; Announcement of New Series! To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state. [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. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Massachusetts requires a two-thirds majority in the General Court to override a veto. I think the answer to that is yes.. 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. 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. 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. Ballotpedia lists the positions of and excerpts from editorials supporting or opposing ballot measures from the editorial boards of certain media outlets. Its a dangerous law Its a law that circumvents the federal authorities who have the primary jurisdiction in vetting these people (from other countries), McMahon said. Federal courts | State executives | Proponents said that H 4805 would increase road safety, reduce hit-and-run accidents, and help families without the required citizenship or immigration information. Having access to a drivers license allows people to better access work and school. 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. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. On June 27, 2022, the referendum was cleared for signature gathering. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on: To submit a media editorial for inclusion, email editor@ballotpedia.org. 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. Yes on 4 led the campaign in support of a 'yes' vote on Question 4. This isnt an immigration issue. Signatures for a veto referendum petition must be submitted no more than 90 days after the governor signs the targeted bill or it is enacted into law. } 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. But opponents have argued granting immigrants without legal status state-recognized identification would open the door for voter fraud in elections and would place too high a burden on the Registry of Motor Vehicles to verify foreign documents. 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. 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. Diehl also partnered with Maureen Maloney, who chairs a committee formed earlier this year called, Fair And Secure Massachusetts. The group is now urging voters to vote No on Question 4 this November. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [18] The House voted 119-36 to override the veto, with eight Democrats joining all 28 Republicans to sustain the veto. 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. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun). The push to expand access to driver's licenses to qualified immigrants without legal status continues to gain momentum as public health professionals, business leaders, advocates and. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. One committee was registered in support of a 'no' vote on Question 4: Fair and Secure Massachusetts. Fernando Montelongo, who served as a student page in the Idaho Senate during the first part of the 2023 legislative session, testified in support of the restricted drivers license bill. Charlie Bakers veto. 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. Tobacco, What's on my ballot? 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.. "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 Summary of Proposed Changes to the AEWR Methodology and the Changes Adopted in This Final Rule Clark Corbin has more than a decade of experience covering Idaho government and politics. Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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 new law will extend driving privileges to an estimated 45,000-85,000 people over the next three years, according to MassBudget. Prior to joining the Idaho Capital Sun he reported for the Idaho Falls Post Register and Idaho Education News. Voters in Massachusetts may be asked whether to repeal state law granting standard Massachusetts driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants in November. Like driver safety, it impacts all of us, she said. [3] Firearms Visually, the restricted drivers licenses would be oriented vertically, instead of horizontally, Guthrie said. Under the Massachusetts bill, known as the Work and Family Mobility Act, driver's licenses would be available to undocumented immigrants if they are able to provide documentation like a. 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. 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. 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. 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. In February 2022, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for standard Massachusetts driver's licenses. 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. 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. 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. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. As of September 2022, 17 states and Washington, D.C. had enacted laws authorizing the issuance of driver's licenses to immigrants who cannot provide proof of lawful or authorized presence. Join us. In Massachusetts, bills passed by the state legislature can be put before voters through a veto referendum petition. Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Massachusetts. 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. 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. It will be up to the House to initiate a veto override, with a two thirds vote required in each branch to make the bill law. 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. We cant keep telling them theyre essential and at the same time deny them the right to drive.. 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. The effort ultimately received more than enough support to make the ballot. 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.". [3], .ballot-measure-endorsements p { The overwhelming majority of bills that advance out of Idaho legislative committees are sent to the floor with recommendations the bills pass. "People that are in the country illegally should not be rewarded for their behavior by getting a driver's license.". The registrar may review any documents issued by another country to determine whether they may be used as proof of identity or date of birth, according to a summary of the law from the Secretary of States office. 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. She is from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and currently lives in the Boston area. But this bill should be signed His (Bakers) concerns are baseless. Why it matters: Massachusetts is home to more than 200,000 immigrants without legal status, according to the Migration Policy Institute. The word count for the ballot summary is 437. 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. Otherwise, committees usually kill a bill by voting to hold it. Read Idaho Gov. licenses to qualified immigrants without legal status, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, Massachusetts drivers license bill has momentum to pass despite COVID-19, governors opposition, lawmakers say, Lawmakers renew push to expand drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts, Immigration reforms proposed by President Joe Biden stand to benefit over 200,000 Massachusetts residents, families. 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. 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. Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. margin-bottom: 10px; Standing alongside her is Roxana Rivera, vice president of 32BJ SEIU, who led the push for the law with Reason. The Elections and Voting page, run by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. State and local courts | 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. "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 He has covered every Idaho legislative session since 2011 gavel-to-gavel. The vote margin was 66% to repeal the law, and 34% to uphold the law. Ballotpedia features 395,437 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. The measure is due for a new report from the Joint Committee on Transportation by March 4. -moz-columns: 2; Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. But more recent polling shows most voters have been swayed to support the law. The state Senate picked up the bill, too, before Baker vetoed it in May. 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. This breaking news story will be updated. Several police chiefs, sheriffs and Attorney General Maura Healey support the proposal. The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 20, and the FRE is 19. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; American Indian issues Democratic-controlled General Court overrides Gov. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. 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. The new law, if not rejected by voters, will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. The committee reported over $217,135 in contributions. Under the bill (H 4805) expanded access to standard driver's license would begin on July 1, 2023. [25], The deadline for registration is 10 days prior to the election. A "yes" would uphold the current law to allow immigrants to obtain licenses, while a "no" vote would reject the new law. The act became a law in June after the House and Senate both voted to override Gov. margin-bottom: 0 !important; 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]. [12] H 4805 prohibited registrars from inquiring about an applicants citizenship or immigration status when applying for driver's licenses and motor vehicle registrations. But Jim Lyons, chair of the state Republican Party, argues driving is a privilege, not a right. But on Wednesday, a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses passed a first-ever vote in the House, 120-36. Transportation by March 4 drop of up to 10 percent per year from editorials supporting or opposing ballot measures the. 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