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. Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration. Its a critical tool of mobility in Massachusetts. 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. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. .ballot-measure-endorsements td { width: 35% !important;} 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. Why it matters: Massachusetts is home to more than 200,000 immigrants without legal status, according to the Migration Policy Institute. 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. What happens when providers turn to medication first? The law specifies that information provided by or relating to any applicant or license-holder will not be a public record and shall not be disclosed, except as required by federal law or as authorized by Attorney General regulations, and except for purposes of motor vehicle insurance. } 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 full text of House Bill 4805, which the veto referendum would have overturned, is below:[1]. He said despite a decline in hit-and-runs, fatal crashes are up. Who was behind the campaigns in favor of a 'yes' or 'no' vote? Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance reported spending $12,858.92 in opposition to Question 4. Applicants under the bill would need to provide proof of their identity, date of birth and residency in Massachusetts. Federal courts | Laws we must follow to ensure a fair, safe, and functional society. Economically speaking, access to a vehicle also opens doors for new jobs and even gives some folks the tools to start a business, Driscoll said at the time. 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. 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. 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. If the Idaho Senate passes the bill, it would be sent to the Idaho House of Representatives for consideration. BOSTON - The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday joined the House in voting to override 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. 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. However, the divided committee took the unusual step of sending Senate Bill 1081 to the Senate floor without a recommendation attached to it. 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. Do you approve of a law summarized below, which was approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 26, 2022? But on Wednesday, a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses passed a first-ever vote in the House, 120-36. 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. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios. 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. Aug 22, 2022 Category : Government . | battersea power station webcam; maine real estate transfer tax exemptions These people are mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who are here to be an active part of the American dream, and they arent going anywhere.. Voters in Massachusetts may be asked whether to repeal state law granting standard Massachusetts driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants in November. 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. Those states that have adopted this policy are highlighted in blue below:[2]. Massachusetts requires a two-thirds majority in the General Court to override a veto. 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. 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. The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 10, and the FRE is 61. To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here. All Massachusetts families need peace of mind knowing that the drivers on our highways and city streets have passed the same driving test and know the rules of our roads., Jeneczka Roman, advocacy and coalition manager at the Massachusetts Public Health Association, described the bill as a key tool for a healthier and more just commonwealth.. .sbtotaltable th { [3], .ballot-measure-endorsements p { She also argued that blocking the undocumented from obtaining licenses represents a forced lack of engagement that further cements inequality in our society.. Everyone needs to get to work and get to school, so lets do everything we can to get people where theyre going safely.. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. But Jim Lyons, chair of the state Republican Party, argues driving is a privilege, not a right. 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. This breaking news story will be updated. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; American Indian issues Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Ballot measures, Who represents me? Senate Committee Approves Proposal to Issue Limited Drivers Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants in Idaho. Here is what you need to know about Question 4, regarding eligibility for driver's licenses. Navigating Research with Undocumented Immigrants as an Undocumented Immigrant; Announcement of New Series! They will not be able to get a REAL ID. 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]. Massachusetts is one of the first states to put repeal of the law to a vote. Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The documents required to obtain a driver's license varied by state but included a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport, or consular card along with evidence of current residency in the state. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var a in e.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r