The state’s prime election official stated issues {that a} new driver’s license regulation for individuals with out authorized immigration standing might intervene with the automated voter registration system should not justified.
People with out lawful proof of presence within the United States can apply for a driver’s license in Massachusetts beginning July 1 as long as they’ve two paperwork verifying their identification and date of start. The regulation was billed as a approach to improve street security and ensure all drivers on the street are insured.
But Republicans who unsuccessfully tried to dam the measure final 12 months stated Massachusetts residents with out authorized standing might inadvertently be registered to vote by means of the state’s computerized voter registration system whereas making use of for a license.
Secretary of State William Galvin, who manages elections in Massachusetts, stated he doesn’t foresee any points as individuals begin to hunt down licenses subsequent month.
“Do I think there’s going to be a problem? No, I don’t,” he instructed the Herald. “We’ve had a long experience with people, because of the high number of non-native born persons in the state already, who are not citizens who have driver’s licenses. We’ve had a lot of extensive experience with that. I don’t see it being a problem.”
Former Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed a model of the regulation in May 2022, citing issues over computerized voter registration and the Registry of Motor Vehicle’s capacity to confirm overseas paperwork. Democrats disagreed and overwhelmingly overrode the veto a month later, cementing the then-proposal as state regulation.
Galvin stated his workplace has taken extra steps “to make it very clear” that an individual with out proof of lawful presence within the U.S. doesn’t have the appropriate to vote below the motive force’s license regulation.
He stated his workplace’s prime lawyer drafted amendments to the state’s computerized voter registration rules that “puts it in clear language” that people who find themselves not legally within the United States can’t register to vote below the system. It additionally offers the state cowl if “we are sued,” he stated.
“The best way to make sure there’s no ambiguity is to put it right there. It’s reflective of the fact we are going to have a change as of July 1 in the category of people who will be entitled to get licenses,” he stated.
Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie stated the company has shared voter registration data with the secretary of state’s workplace “for a long time.”
“We have a process that we use to ensure that only those people that would meet the eligibility to register to vote as citizens get transferred to the secretary of the commonwealth,” Ogilvie instructed the Herald. “We’ll continue to follow that process.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”