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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The majority of Massachusetts residents voted in favor of Question Four, giving the legislature the go-ahead to enact a law that would grant undocumented immigrants the ability to obtain a driver's license or learner's permit— as long as they meet all other requirements. The Associated Press called the question early Wednesday afternoon, saying just over 53.5% of Massachusetts voters wanted to keep the law.
The question was one of the most contentious questions on the ballot this election season.
The legislation passed in the House and Senate in May, but in early September, enough registered Bay State voters had signed a petition to bring the topic of debate back to the Election Day ballot.
Once the law takes effect in July of next year, employees at the registrar of motor vehicles are forbidden from making a record or asking applicants about their immigration and citizenship status.
That being said, the law does not provide a pipeline for people without proof of citizenship to get a "real ID," and all applicants will still be required to pass a road test, obtain insurance, prove their identity, date of birth, and Massachusetts residency.
In order to prove identity and date of birth, valid foreign passports, Consular Identification documents, foreign driver's licenses, original birth and U.S. marriage certificates will be accepted.
The law, officially named the Work and Family Mobility Act, was vetoed by Governor Charlie Baker, a move that members of the state Legislature chose to override. Over the past few months Baker has been vocal about his opposition to the law's implementation. In his veto message to lawmakers the governor said the law "undoes a critical safeguard to the driver's license issuance process," and argues the Registry does not have the capacity to check foreign identification documents.
Read More: Lawmakers Enact License Access Bill Over Gov. Baker’s Veto
The governor and opponents of the legislation also say that licenses issued with or without demonstration of U.S. citizenship would be indistinguishable from each other.
Supporters of the law say checks for proof of identity, date of birth, and residency do enough to vet driver's licenses regardless of the applicant's immigration status.
The organization Yes on 4 for Safer Roads goes on to say that the law makes for safer roads, referencing a drop in the number of uninsured drivers and hit-and-run crashes in 17 states that have passed similar laws.
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