Editor’s Note: Click here for Assemblywoman Walsh’s comments.

https://youtu.be/AyTq2pBXGvY

Today, the state Assembly passed Assembly Bill 3675-B, known as the “Green Light Bill” that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain New York state driver’s licenses. A recent Siena Poll found that 61% of New Yorkers opposed driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. Despite a large percentage of residents opposing the measure, the Green Light Bill passed the Assembly and is set to be voted on in the Senate.

Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston) has consistently voiced her opposition to the bill due to various implications, including the likelihood of voter fraud. To register to vote, one needs to provide either their social security number or driver’s license identification number. If driver’s licenses are issued to illegal immigrants, they need only provide that identification number to vote. Local Boards of Election do not currently have a data base or mechanism in place to differentiate a legitimate voter from an individual here illegally, should they be granted this privilege.

“At present, the Department of Motor Vehicles allows those receiving a New York state driver’s license to be able to concurrently register to vote. The Green Light Bill does not address what will happen if an illegal immigrant were to check the box to become a registered voter. This problem will force local boards of elections to allocate additional time and resources toward deciphering who is legally or illegally registered to vote, if they can at all. Ultimately, mistakes will be made, and voter fraud will occur,” said Walsh. “I am extremely concerned that granting this privilege to illegal immigrants will trigger even farther-reaching proposals that reward illegal immigrants rather than hardworking residents.”

Walsh currently sponsors the “County Clerks Protection Act” (A.6317) that would protect county clerks in the event that they deny undocumented immigrants driver’s licenses if they believe it may violate the law or their oath of office. The Green Light Bill will create a potential gap in state law that will put county clerks at risk in the event they refuse to issue a driver’s license to an illegal immigrant who cannot provide a Social Security Number or proper documentation. The bill would ensure that county clerks are not removed from their elected position for acting in what they believe to be good faith.

“It’s truly disappointing the Assembly Majority has passed this bill without regard to what the majority New Yorkers want. This bill has been a bad deal for New Yorkers from the start and continues to be despite the appearance of small concessions from sponsors. The bill still creates a double-standard, allowing those here illegally to get the same standard license as a U.S. citizen or someone here legally, still provides an invitation for fraud with the option for applicants to refuse to provide their Social Security Number, and still circumvents federal law. Further, the bill allows the state to implement the policy before it becomes law providing no time to train DMV clerks how to translate foreign documents or how to detect fraudulent foreign documents,” said Saratoga County Clerk Craig Hayner. “Most New Yorkers understand the myriad flaws in this bill. I urge the Senate Majority members to listen to New Yorkers statewide who oppose this bill.”