NEW YORK – On Monday the so-called “Green Light” Law to hand out driver’s licenses to undocumented and illegal immigrants takes effect, and it’s a harsh reminder to all New Yorkers about the consequences of One Party Rule.

Multiple scientific polls conducted on this law have shown time and time again a clear, statewide opposition from the majority of New Yorkers. In our own 52nd Senate District, we released a public Community Voice Survey on the "Green Light" Law, and of the thousands of responses we received, 85 percent of respondents opposed issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Despite this widespread opposition from the public and from organizations like the New York Association of County Clerks, the all-democrat led Senate, Assembly and Executive Branch again chose to steamroll over the will of the people and reward those who break the law.

Having a driver's license is a privilege, and this misguided and poorly-written law is a slap in the face to law-abiding New Yorkers, as well as to new Americans who have taken the appropriate steps to become citizens legally.

This law also leaves the door wide open for voter fraud, allowing any standard driver’s license applicant to simply “check a box” and automatically register to vote in our elections. No safeguards are in place to ensure only eligible U.S. citizens check that box to automatically register to vote. In fact, I believe that these safeguards were deliberately left out.

Elections have consequences, and whether it’s driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants or free college for illegal immigrants, this “new” New York under One Party Rule continues to show its allegiance lies with downstate, far-left political interests rather than with hardworking, law-abiding middle-class families.

-Senator Fred Akshar