Massachusetts Residents Vote Yes on 4 and Allow Illegal Immigrants to Obtaining Driver's Licenses

Massachusetts Residents Have Spoken In Favor Of Keeping In Place The State's Law That Prevents Illegal Immigrants From Obtaining Driver's Licenses By Voting "Yes" On Question 4

The Associated Press reports that Question 4 was approved by Massachusetts voters, signaling support for a measure passed earlier this year that offers driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants in the country illegally.

In July 2019, the Work and Family Mobility Act will become law. According to organizer estimates, thousands more newly qualified drivers may apply for permits in the following months.

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To date, 16 additional states and the District of Columbia have passed similar legislation, with Massachusetts being the most recent. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 250,000 undocumented immigrants call Massachusetts home.

The measure was submitted by opponents who attempted and failed to overturn the new law, accumulating thousands of signatures to go on the ballot this autumn.

Tolerable and Safe The state of Massachusetts was at the forefront of the movement to overturn the statute, claiming that doing so would only serve to normalize illegal immigration. Although Secretary of State Bill Galvin frequently refuted claims that the bill would lead to voter fraud, many people were critical of it.

The law's proponents contended that everyone's road safety would improve if more drivers were licensed and insured. They cited research showing a decrease in hit-and-run accidents in states like California and Connecticut after comparable legislation was enacted.

The battle over the ballot measure was only the most recent roadblock to issuing licenses to unauthorized immigrants. After years of inaction in the state legislature, Democrats finally enacted the bill this summer with backing from influential law enforcement groups.

Despite Republican Governor Charlie Baker's veto, the bill was passed with enough Democratic votes to override Baker's veto.