Colorado bill to require voter IDs gets initial OK

By The AP
Monday, February 21, 2011

DENVER — A Republican proposal to require voters to show photo IDs before casting their ballots got preliminary approval despite arguments from Democrats who say the bill will disenfranchise voters.

House Bill 1003 passed on second reading in the House today and faces a final vote there before heading to the Senate. Republicans say the bill is necessary to prevent non-citizens from voting. Democrats counter that the bill is unnecessary and that there is no proof of widespread voter impersonation.

The proposal will likely face a tough challenge in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Colorado lawmakers have debated the issue of requiring photo IDs to vote before but this is the furthest the bill has made it in years.