Margareth Shepard

It's official: WE WON!

Massachusetts chose to vote to uphold the Work and Family Mobility Act as law.

Because of this, all drivers in our state — regardless of immigration status — will now be able to apply for a standard driver's license!

This is a victory that has been years in the making.

What started with a discussion between leaders at the Brazilian Worker Center and 32BJ SEIU grew into a movement of over 270 organizations, businesses, and leaders across the state that powered this movement.

We built a coalition of elected officials, businesses, transportation experts, health care leaders, law enforcement, and activists in every part of the state.

We knocked countless doors, flooded the phones, and reached out to everyone we knew about the importance of Question 4.

Together, we won safer roads and increased mobility access for everyone in our state, regardless of status.

We won, in the end, because our movement is a reflection of all of us, and we couldn’t be more proud of this strong, diverse coalition we have built. Together.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being in this fight with us. We truly could not have done this without you.

¡Sí Se Puede!

Massachusetts Voters VOTE YES FOR QUESTION 4 on November 8 to and make our roads safer for all!

Do you approve of a law summarized below, which was approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 26, 2022?

SUMMARY
This law allows Massachusetts residents who cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain a standard driver’s license or learner’s permit if they meet all the other qualifications for a standard license or learner’s permit, including a road test and insurance, and provide proof of their identity, date of birth, and residency. The law provides that, when processing an application for such a license or learner’s 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. This law does not allow people who cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain a REAL ID.

To prove identity and date of birth, the law requires an applicant to present at least two documents, one from each of the following categories: (1) a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired Consular Identification document; and (2) a valid unexpired driver’s 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 driver’s license, or a marriage certificate or divorce decree issued by any state or territory of the United States. One of the documents presented by an applicant must include a photograph and one must include a date of birth. Any documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. The registrar may review any documents issued by another country to determine whether they may be used as proof of identity or date of birth.

The law requires that applicants for a driver’s license or learner’s permit shall attest, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction.

The law specifies that information provided by or relating to any applicant or license-holder will not be a public record and shall not be disclosed, except as required by federal law or as authorized by Attorney General regulations, and except for purposes of motor vehicle insurance.

The law directs the registrar of motor vehicles to make regulations regarding the documents required of United States citizens and others who provide proof of lawful presence with their license application.

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 driver’s license or learner’s permit who does not provide proof of lawful presence will not be automatically registered to vote.

The law takes effect on July 1, 2023.

WHAT YOUR VOTE WILL DO
A YES VOTE would keep in place the law, which would allow Massachusetts residents who cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain a driver’s license or permit if they meet the other requirements for doing so.

As we come to the end of this election, I’d like to thank Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Representatives Jack Lewis and Danillo Sena, former State Representative Pam Richardson , City Councilors Cesar Stwart-Morales, Tracey Bryant and Adam Steiner, School Committee member Beverly Hugo and Marcony Almeida, former School Committee member Geoffrey Epstein, and vice chair of the Framingham Public Library Leslie White, and to all organizations and hundreds volunteers that contributed for this vigorous, positive, honest, and educative campaign.

For the past seven months, we spoke with the voters about our shared values, and despite all challenges we remain true to our beliefs that “the end doesn't justify the means,” and that campaigning is not a game of illusions to gain votes, but a real opportunity to bring honest informations to the voters. And candidates, for any position, are only vessels that embody the people’s vision and pledge to become their servants.

I congratulate Priscila Sousa for her election and wish her the best on representing us at the State House.

Margareth Basilio Shepard

Today is Election Day! Polls are open until 8pm.

Confirm your voting location here:
www.framinghamma.gov/3071/Vote-on-Election-Day-Polling-Locations