Thread: Democrats block voter ID bill in NM House

Democrats block voter ID bill in NM House
By Milan Simonich / Santa Fe Bureau
Posted: 03/15/2011 11:44:18 AM MDT

SANTA FE - Democrats today stopped another bill that would have required photo identification to vote.

They blocked a proposal by Republican Rep. Cathrynn Brown of Carlsbad. The decision by the House Voters and Elections Committee was 7-5 and went down party lines. Every Democrat opposed Brown's bill.

This means photo identification is probably dead as an issue until the 2013 legislative session. Only budget matters are likely to be considered next year.

House Speaker Ben Lujan, a member of the committee, said he was worried about the photo requirement precluding qualified people from voting. He mentioned his grandson, a soldier in Afghanistan, and said he worried that the photo requirement might be cumbersome for him.

Secretary of State Dianna Duran, an advocate of photo identification to vote, told the committee that her office may have uncovered evidence of fraud in recent elections.

Duran said her staff had begun comparing voter rolls and driver's licenses that the state issued to foreign nationals. So far, she said, 37 cases had been flagged in which people who are not U.S. citizens apparently voted in New Mexico elections. She said the findings were preliminary and needed further investigation.

Those people, though, had photo identifications.

New Mexico is one of three states that issues driver's licenses to people without proof of immigration status. About 83,000 foreign nationals have New Mexico driver's licenses.

Under Brown's bill, a driver's license would be an acceptable form of voter identification.

This marked the second time this session that the seven Democrats who control the Voters and Elections Committee blocked a voter ID bill. The first measure was by Rep. Dianne Hamilton, R-Silver City.

Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@-tnmnp.com or 505-820-6898. His blog is at nmcapitolreport.com.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_17618310

Democrates refuse to go with the merican public's wishes. They would rather go and cater to the latino voters

Unbelievable!!

[quote="jamesw62"]Democrats block voter ID bill in NM House
By Milan Simonich / Santa Fe Bureau
Posted: 03/15/2011 11:44:18 AM MDT

SANTA FE - Democrats today stopped another bill that would have required photo identification to vote.

Can these blocks be appealed somehow? THIS IS OUT OF HAND! What is wrong with Democrats?? What is their problem?? Seriousely!

Like I've been saying
the lib dems are the enemies of America

They are stopping this and illegal immigration bills all over the country

Secretary of State Dianna Duran said her staff had begun comparing voter rolls and driver's licenses that the state issued to foreign nationals. So far, she said, 37 cases had been flagged in which people who are not U.S. citizens apparently voted in New Mexico elections. She said the findings were preliminary and needed further investigation.

so i guess these 37 cases are not important, mr. lujan?
so much for the sanctity of elections in new mexico

Emergency action needed here!

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-231490.html