This has nothing to do with immigration. 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 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. Massachusetts voters narrowly approved a law that allows those in the U.S. illegally to obtain a driver's license. 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. Tradues em contexto de "about undocumented immigrants" en ingls-portugus da Reverso Context : I encourage all media organizations to stop using the word "illegal" when talking about undocumented immigrants, because there's nothing illegal about being human. Summary of Proposed Changes to the AEWR Methodology and the Changes Adopted in This Final Rule Crighton said residents should vote "yes" in the interest of safety. The law provides that, when processing an application for such a license or learners permit or motor vehicle registration, the registrar of motor vehicles may not ask about or create a record of the citizenship or immigration status of the applicant, except as otherwise required by law. The Massachusetts general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. to the Senate floor without a recommendation attached to it. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. }, The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the measure.Cite error: Invalid
[ tag; invalid names, e.g. A total of $3,350.00 was spent to collect the 40,120 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $0.08. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. Aug 22, 2022 Category : Government . 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. This isnt an immigration issue. Several police chiefs, sheriffs and Attorney General Maura Healey support the proposal. 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. We cant keep telling them theyre essential and at the same time deny them the right to drive.. 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]. 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.. Public policy. Do you approve of a law summarized below, which was approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 26, 2022? It looks like a bid to repeal a Massachusetts law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses will make it on to the November ballot. Charlie Baker on the legislation.. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance reported spending $12,858.92 in opposition to Question 4. Prior to joining the Idaho Capital Sun he reported for the Idaho Falls Post Register and Idaho Education News. 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. 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. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Heres everything to know about the debate around Question 4: After years of lobbying, advocacy and tweaks, proponents of the law scored a victory earlier this year when the state House of Representatives voted to pass the bill in February. [3] [4] Estimates in 2016 put the number of unauthorized immigrants at 10.7 million, representing 3.3% of the total U.S. population. In February 2022, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for standard Massachusetts driver's licenses. State executives | 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. too many, The following were the top donors who contributed to the opposition committees.Cite error: Invalid ][ tag; invalid names, e.g. .split-cols-bm { margin-top: 10px !important; Beginning in April 2021, undocumented immigrants in New Jersey will be able to obtain driver's 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. and last updated 9:36 AM, Nov 09, 2022. This has nothing to do with immigration. A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses has passed the Massachusetts Senate. 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. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. 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. 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. The committee reported $3.6 million in contributions. Proponents said that H 4805 would increase road safety, reduce hit-and-run accidents, and help families without the required citizenship or immigration information. Fausto Menard Twitter Producer, All Things ConsideredFausto Menard is a producer for WBUR's All Things Considered. Too many people in our communities drive in fear every day of being pulled over, detained, then deported. Mar Valdecantos is the director of Rice County Neighbors United/Vecinxs Unidxs . First generation college student Stephanie Gonzalez Tena spoke in favor of the restricted drivers license, saying she doesnt want her family to live in fear of driving. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; American Indian issues 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. Elections in 2023 | To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state. Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. 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. For that reason, some law enforcement leaders have backed the measure, including the Massachusetts Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association. [3], .ballot-measure-endorsements p { In Massachusetts, bills passed by the state legislature can be put before voters through a veto referendum petition. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston. 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. 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. 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]. U.S. President | Tobacco, What's on my ballot? It also authorized registrars to accept certain documents to verify the identity and date of birth of an applicant. Massachusetts is one of the first states to put repeal of the law to a vote. Under the law, called the Work and Family Mobility Act, those who entered the country illegally will be able to apply for a drivers license with certain documents, like a foreign passport or consular identification paperwork. 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. The effort ultimately received more than enough support to make the ballot. Navigating Research with Undocumented Immigrants as an Undocumented Immigrant; Announcement of New Series! Charlie Baker previously expressing opposition. The Senate voted 32-8 Thursday. It's high time that we let undocumented immigrants live without fear and start honoring their many contributions. The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 10, and the FRE is 61. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. 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. 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. 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.". margin-bottom: 10px; 100% remote. 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. Lawmakers backing the move say it. 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. Everyone needs to get to work and get to school, so lets do everything we can to get people where theyre going safely.. Sponsors of the measure hired Antonio Molle and Sadie Webb to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. 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. 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. Senate Committee Approves Proposal to Issue Limited Drivers Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants in Idaho. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. At the time of the override vote, Democrats held such a majority. 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. 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. } In Massachusetts, undocumented immigrants are eligible to apply for a driver's license. too many, The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in opposition to the measure.Cite error: Invalid ][ tag; invalid names, e.g. 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. After a 90-minute hearing, Senate Transportation Committee members were clearly divided. States issuing driver's licenses to immigrants who cannot provide proof of lawful presence. 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. The overwhelming majority of bills that advance out of Idaho legislative committees are sent to the floor with recommendations the bills pass. 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.. How to vote | For 2022, there was a total of 21,658 calls for service, compared to 21,593 for 2021. Republican grassroots organizers said last . 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. The restricted license would cost $50 and be valid for two years. The state Senate picked up the bill, too, before Baker vetoed it in May. Evening Report - Tue., Feb 28, 2023 - More Ed Savings Account Proposals / Restricted Drivers Licenses for Undocumented in Idaho - KRFP, Radio Free Moscow 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. Visually, the restricted drivers licenses would be oriented vertically, instead of horizontally, Guthrie said. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. They do not support issuing the drivers license to those that are in our country illegally, Lavey said. Support GBH. 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.. 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.. margin-bottom: 5px !important; In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required to qualify a veto referendum for the ballot is equal to 1.5 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. 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. Another 39.2 percent said they would vote against the law, while 4.2 percent remained undecided. Any documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. 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. Charlie Bakers veto. If it becomes law, Massachusetts would join Washington, D.C., and 16 states, including neighboring New York and Connecticut, with similar laws, which have been considered in Massachusetts for nearly two decades a period thats seen significant updates in standards for identification required for licenses. The committee reported over $217,135 in contributions. Massachusetts does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. The new law will extend driving privileges to an estimated 45,000-85,000 people over the next three years, according to MassBudget. Retired Meridian Police Chief Jeff Lavey told the Senate Transportation Committee that members of the Idaho Sheriffs Association voted unanimously to oppose the bill to create a restricted drivers license. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. The Senate voted 32 to 8 in favor of the measure. If the new bill passes, people who apply for a standard driver's license will need to provide proof of identity, date of birth and state residency, according to the bill. .endorsements-header { 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. 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. 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. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! Apply today! 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. More News Alden-Conger's spring . -webkit-columns: 1; Constitutional rights Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. 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. Alexi Cohan is a producer on Greater Boston. -moz-columns: 1; 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Stay up to date with everything Boston. .ballot-measure-endorsements ul { 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. Charlie Baker's formal opposition. "This isn't an immigration issue. Question 4 was a veto referendum on House Bill 4805 (H 4805). the state House of Representatives voted to pass the bill in February. 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. 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. } 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. Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes, president of the Major City Chiefs of Police Association, said last year that the bill would promote trust between law enforcement and all the communities we serve and protect, according to GBH. Applicants must also attest, under threat of perjury, their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction. [3] [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. We have an urgent need for labor in this state. The documents required to obtain a driver's license vary by state . Examples of acceptable identification include: a driver's license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter's name and address. McMahon also noted issues with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and its capacity to vet foreign documents. Sec. Gov. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. 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. The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. 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. The overwhelming majority of bills that advance out of Idaho legislative committees are sent to the floor with recommendations the bills pass. "The rule of law matters," Lyons said. 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. How to run for office | The act became a law in June after the House and Senate both voted to override Gov. Other members of the Idaho Sheriffs Association also spoke in opposition to restricted drivers licenses. Shearer repeated the department's mission statement and goals before launching into the numbers for 2022. They will not be able to get a REAL ID. BOSTON - The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday joined the House in voting to override Gov. I think the answer to that is yes.. Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Massachusetts. Firearms [16] In his veto message, Baker said: A standard Massachusetts drivers license will no longer confirm that a person is who they say they are [and the bill] restricts the Registrys ability to share citizenship information with those entities responsible for ensuring that only citizens register for and vote in our elections.[17][6]. Having access to a drivers license allows people to better access work and school. Mass. 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. If we already have a system in place that works, how would this be any different? Crighton asked. 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. 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. !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
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