What to know about the Massachusetts driver’s license ballot question

Massachusetts handed a regulation in June to let immigrants with out authorized standing receive sure driver’s licenses. Now, repeal efforts have led to a referendum on the laws.

Driving the information: Voters will determine on Query 4 on the polls in November. A “sure” vote would protect the regulation. A “no” vote would repeal it.

Why it issues: Massachusetts turned the seventeenth state to increase driving privileges to immigrants with out authorized standing, but it surely’s one of many solely states the place such a regulation has confronted a repeal marketing campaign.

Particulars: A “sure” vote would let undocumented immigrants apply for the standard driver’s license — not the REAL ID license that can quickly be required to fly domestically and enter sure federal buildings.

• They would wish to supply two types of ID. One could possibly be a legitimate, unexpired overseas passport or consular ID, and the opposite could possibly be a delivery certificates, nationwide overseas ID card, or a U.S. marriage or divorce decree or different doc, per the laws.

Like everybody else, these candidates would wish to go a driving check to get the license and acquire automobile insurance coverage to register a car.

The regulation that was handed in June after the Home and Senate overrode Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto prohibits the Registry of Motor Autos from asking about an applicant’s immigration standing.

• Sure, however: It additionally requires the state to create laws that cease anybody who will get a license with out displaying proof of citizenship from robotically being registered to vote.

What they’re saying: “That is profound for [undocumented immigrants] on condition that immigrant communities are actually going to have the ability to do issues that all of us take without any consideration, easy issues equivalent to with the ability to drive your youngsters to highschool, going to the physician, going to the grocery retailer,” says Roxana Rivera, vice chairman of 32BJ SEIU and co-chair of the Driving Households Ahead coalition.

• Earlier than the regulation handed, the coalition amassed assist from district attorneys, police chiefs and transportation specialists who stated they felt it could make roads safer.

The opposite facet: Opponents of the regulation say voting “no” ensures that immigrants with out authorized standing aren’t rewarded for being within the nation with out permission.

• “We expect that granting Massachusetts driver’s licenses to unlawful immigrants is reckless, and radical incentives like this may solely exacerbate the issue of unlawful immigration reasonably than repair it,” MassGOP chair Jim Lyons stated in a current press launch.

Some opponents, equivalent to Secretary of State candidate Rayla Campbell, have falsely claimed that the regulation permits immigrants with out authorized standing to vote illegally in Massachusetts.