Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. First up is legislation known as the Restore the Vote bill, having passed the 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.". Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. 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. Click "show" below to see the full list of Massachusetts veto referendums between 1919 and 2021. It received endorsements from Gov. 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. 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. Debate: Question 4 would let undocumented immigrants to get a drivers license in Massachusetts. 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. Laws we must follow to ensure a fair, safe, and functional society. A similar bill has already passed in that House with a veto-proof majority. 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. } Last month, the states Elections Division certified 71,883 signatures collected to get the question on the ballot well above the 40,120 signatures required. 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. 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]. voters may get to decide whether to overturn undocumented immigrant driver's license law Create a . V oters will decide on four ballot questions in the 2022 Massachusetts elections on Nov. 8. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Only about 7 percent of those polled were unsure of how they felt about the law. -moz-columns: 2; In the process, Guthrie predicted the new restricted licenses would make the roads safer and reduce costs and risks for all motorists by providing a path for more drivers to legally drive and obtain insurance. They do not support issuing the drivers license to those that are in our country illegally, Lavey said. In Massachusetts, undocumented immigrants are eligible to apply for a driver's license. Evening Report - Tue., Feb 28, 2023 - More Ed Savings Account Proposals / Restricted Drivers Licenses for Undocumented in Idaho - KRFP, Radio Free Moscow 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. Massachusetts does not require voters to present identification (ID) while voting, in most cases.[27]. I think the RMV [Registry of Motor Vehicles] is not equipped to properly vet people coming to the United States from over 100 different countries."[4]. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. They cant even suspend licenses from people when theyre supposed to, he said. The vote margin was 66% to repeal the law, and 34% to uphold the law. Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director Lenita Reason, center, delivers remarks around midnight rallying supporters of the ballot question. 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. Voters in Massachusetts may be asked whether to repeal state law granting standard Massachusetts driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants in November. For that reason, some law enforcement leaders have backed the measure, including the Massachusetts Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association. 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. Charlie Baker previously expressing opposition. 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. Cities | The Idaho Legislature's Senate Transportation Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would create a restricted driver's license available to all people 16 and older residing in Idaho . 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. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. 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. 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. Nineteen states have laws in place that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers' license, including Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. How to run for office | Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Massachusetts. 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. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. Applicants under the bill would need to provide proof of their identity, date of birth and residency in Massachusetts. The committee reported over $217,135 in contributions. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance reported spending $12,858.92 in opposition to Question 4. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. This breaking news story will be updated. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. 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. Mar Valdecantos is the director of Rice County Neighbors United/Vecinxs Unidxs . 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. The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday voted in favor of a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. 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 ability to get behind a wheel and drive to work, or take your child to a doctors appointment, is something that many of us might take for granted," Spilka said. U.S. Congress | U.S. President | 4805) May 27, 2022" accessed May 27, 2022, Petition drive deadlines and requirements, Changes in 2022 to laws governing the initiative process, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Massachusetts_Question_4,_Remove_Proof_of_Citizenship_or_Immigration_Status_for_Driver%27s_License_Applications_Referendum_(2022)&oldid=9049900, Massachusetts 2022 ballot measures, certified, Veto referendum certified for the 2022 ballot, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. Eagleson, who noted that licensed drivers are safer drivers, called decisions to limit time on the road heartbreaking, as they impact not only personal health but public health. The Massachusetts State Senate will debate whether undocumented immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in formal session Thursday morning. margin-bottom: 10px; Idaho State Capitol building on January 11, 2023. McMahon also noted issues with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and its capacity to vet foreign documents. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. The following are acceptable forms of identification:[25], Massachusetts automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, division of medical assistance, health insurance connector authority, and other agencies that collect what state law defines as reliable citizenship information.[26]. Like driver safety, it impacts all of us, she said. 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. The new law will extend driving privileges to an estimated 45,000-85,000 people over the next three years, according to MassBudget. 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. Elections in 2023 | This law does not allow people who cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain a REAL ID. } 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. Stay up to date with everything Boston. 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. 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. Applicants must also attest, under threat of perjury, their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction. Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. Support GBH. [19], 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. -webkit-columns: 1; Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Summary of Proposed Changes to the AEWR Methodology and the Changes Adopted in This Final Rule Im talking about the fear of being deported for taking a sick relative to the hospital or the fear of being deported for taking children to school. The Elections and Voting page, run by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Constitutional rights The Massachusetts general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. "This makes our roads safer by requiring that everybody follow the same set of rules," Crighton said. 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. Republican grassroots organizers said last . 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. display: inline; The early voting period for Massachusetts begins on Saturday. "People that are in the country illegally should not be rewarded for their behavior by getting a driver's license.". The bill cleared both branches with more than enough support to override Baker's veto. Sarang Sekhavat, with the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said the law benefits immigrants and society as a whole. .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. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. The new law, if not rejected by voters, will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a standard state drivers license beginning July 1, 2023. 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 committee reported $3.6 million in contributions. Idaho Farm Bureau Federation members, Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance Company and the Professional Firefighters of Idaho also came out in support of the bill, while the Idaho Sheriffs Association and Idaho Freedom Foundation spoke in opposition to it. 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. 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 MassGOP-led push to repeal the law through the ballot question began in June, with a kick-off from Diehl and his running mate, now Republican nominee for lieutenant governor Leah Allen. This makes our roads safer by requiring that everybody follow the same set of rules, Crighton, a sponsor of the law, said. The bill was then. State lawmakers then overrode Bakers veto in June. Counties | Migrants have faced a warm welcome but major challenges, like housing and education. A form of identification is required to register. The full text of House Bill 4805, which the veto referendum would have overturned, is below:[1]. columns: 1; 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 . Ron DeSantis. To obtain a restricted license, drivers would have to live in Idaho, be of legal driving age, pass a driving skills and written test and prove their identity with a passport, birth certificate, consular ID card or another form of identification issued by a foreign government or Native American tribe. font-size:1.2em; We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. 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 measure is due for a new report from the Joint Committee on Transportation by March 4. But Trackels motion failed on a tie vote. [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. Under the bill (H 4805) expanded access to standard driver's license would begin on July 1, 2023. Its really just not right.. They will not be able to get a REAL ID. .ballot-measure-endorsements td { width: 35% !important;} 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. 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. 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. BURRELL: Statewide, police in New York used to arrest about 57,000 people a year for unlicensed driving. Leah and I will not sit by idly and watch the consequences of this bill take away the safety and democratic rights of Massachusetts residents.. Massachusetts voterswill decide this November whether to overturna new lawthat makes undocumented immigrantseligible for driver's licenses. 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. Gross Globe Staff, Updated October 6, 2022, 12:00 a.m. People gave hugs outside the State House after the lawmakers voted to override Governor Charlie Baker's veto of bill that. The law directs the registrar of motor vehicles to make regulations regarding the documents required of United States citizens and others who provide proof of lawful presence with their license application. Its a critical tool of mobility in Massachusetts. "Ensuring all Massachusetts drivers meet the necessary identification, registration and testing requirements for driving just simply makes the roads safer,"Sekhavat said. State and local courts | Alexi Cohan is a producer on Greater Boston. .ballot-measure-endorsements ul { Photo: Steph Solis/Axios. The group contends the law helps protect public safety through ensuring all drivers learn and are properly vetted for safe driving practices. House lawmakers passed the measure on a 120-36 vote. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston. 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. School districts | Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 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. 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. Apply today! } Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Boston. All rights reserved (About Us). Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration. 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. 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. Democratic-controlled General Court overrides Gov. But on Wednesday, a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses passed a first-ever vote in the House, 120-36. This has nothing to do with immigration. One committee was registered in support of a 'no' vote on Question 4: Fair and Secure Massachusetts. -webkit-columns: 2; 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. } Everyone should have the right to access a drivers license regardless of documentation status., PODER of Idaho gathers 8,000 signatures for a petition in support of license bill. This bill is patently unfair to those who have taken the time to immigrate to our great country via legal means and significantly diminishes the public safety of all residents of the Commonwealth. American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. We urgently need to have [undocumented immigrants] drive legally, safely, insured and registered.. In this, I think we might need the wisdom of the whole body as we debate and deliberate this.. Federal courts | 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. It doesnt make any sense to have drivers not having access to a drivers license, she said. 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. 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. California saw a similar drop of up to 10 percent per year. I know it is a unique motion. It would only be accepted for driving, Guthrie said. 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 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 effort ultimately received more than enough support to make the ballot. 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 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. Just look at the hiring signs and the ads. A "no" vote would . Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on: To submit a media editorial for inclusion, email editor@ballotpedia.org. 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. and last updated 9:36 AM, Nov 09, 2022. 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. 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. .arguments-bm-widget li { The secretary of the commonwealth's office announced late Friday that it had certified the signatures needed to put repeal of the law on the November ballot. As a son of immigrants, I can tell you the passage of this legislation would bring hope to the undocumented residents of Idaho, Montelongo told legislators. II. Proponents said that H 4805 would increase road safety, reduce hit-and-run accidents, and help families without the required citizenship or immigration information. The overwhelming majority of bills that advance out of Idaho legislative committees are sent to the floor with recommendations the bills pass. Charles D. Bakers (R) veto of House Bill 4805 (H 4805). (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun). The overwhelming majority of bills that advance out of Idaho legislative committees are sent to the floor with recommendations the bills pass. At the time of the override vote, Democrats held such a majority. We cant keep telling them theyre essential and at the same time deny them the right to drive.. If the law is not overturned by voters, it will go into effect next July. She is from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and currently lives in the Boston area. A "no" vote was to repeal House Bill 4805, thereby maintaining existing state law that prohibits applicants who cannot verify citizenship or immigration status from obtaining a driver's license and motor vehicle registration. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. The Idaho Capital Sun is the Gem States newest nonprofit news organization delivering accountability journalism on state politics, health care, tax policy, the environment and more.
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