UPDATE: Election Day photo ID requirements fail at state capitol

UPDATE:

Both bills failed on party-line votes.

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The new voting system in Colorado has election officials in El Paso County worried. That’s because, now people can register to vote on Election Day without a photo ID.

Election officials from El Paso County went to the state Capitol building Wednesday morning to fight for two bills that would change that law.

“From getting on an airplane to entering some governmental buildings, photo IDs are required in many pursuits, so isn’t the security of our election process just as important to safeguard?” said Chuck Broerman, the El Paso County clerk.

Same-day voter registration was available for the very first time in Colorado during the mid-term elections. It stemmed from a change in state policy- lead by Colorado Democrats.

“Some voters who don’t have IDs are able to get them, but there are others who can’t. Some people don’t have the documents or can’t afford it. Those voters are young voters, low-income voters and voters of color,” said Elena Nunez, for Common Cause Colorado.

Nunez was also at the Capitol building in Denver on Wednesday to fight against the two bills.

El Paso County election officials are critical of the change in election policy, warning that it leaves the state vulnerable to voter fraud.

“There are some loopholes, some gaps to potential voter fraud. There is a possibility for someone to vote multiple times by registering under various names and going from one voter center to another,” said Broerman.

Broerman also admits the bills are likely to fail in the House lead by Democrats.

“The odds may be stacked against us today, but it’s an opportunity to maybe convince people in the middle that there’s merit to having a process with this safeguard,” said Broerman.

The two bills being discussed in the House would require photo identification for people who register to vote on Election Day or the days immediately before.

One of those bills asks for voters to decide; the other would need the OK from the Legislature.