Oregon voters will decide next year whether people in this country illegally can qualify for a state driver license.
The Oregon Secretary of State's office announced Friday that a group in favor of tougher immigration enforcement gathered enough signatures to force a statewide vote.
Right now, undocumented immigrants can't get an Oregon driver license. Oregon lawmakers approved a measure earlier this year that would have changed that. But the new law won't take effect in January as planned. That's because opponents successfully gathered enough voter signatures to send the measure to the November 2014 ballot.
Jim Ludwick is with Oregonians for Immigration Reform, the group behind the referendum effort.
"It's wrong to reward illegal activity," he says. "Giving drivers licenses to people who are illegally here will not make our roads safer."
Supporters of the new law say it will encourage people in the country illegally to get licensed and learn the rules of the road in Oregon. If voters approve the measure, it would take effect 30 days after the results are certified.
On the Web:
Referendum 301 - Oregon Secretary of State