By KRWG News
New Mexico – Secretary of State Dianna Duran is asking lawmakers to approve legislation requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.
Duran testified Tuesday in support of voter identification legislation by Rep. Dianne Hamilton, a Silver City Republican.
The legislation drew a large crowd to a hearing of the House Voters and Elections Committee, forcing it to move to a larger room in the Capitol.
Hamilton and Duran said a voter identification requirement will provide more integrity in state elections.
Opponents said the ID requirement could discourage people from voting, particularly if they don't have a driver's license. County elections officials object that the bill doesn't apply to mail-in absentee voting, which they say has a greater risk of potential abuse.
The committee postponed a vote on the bill until Thursday.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.