SANTA FE, N.M. - New Mexico's top elections official told lawmakers Tuesday she is concerned that a review of the state's voter registration rolls and a list of the thousands of foreign nationals who have been issued driver's licenses under a much debated state law has turned up evidence of fraud.
Secretary of State Dianna Duran issued a statement Tuesday evening that provided details of her office's findings after two days of cross checking the databases.
The office matched 117 voter registrations to names and dates of birth in the database of foreign national license holders. All 117 have Social Security numbers on their voter registrations that do not match their names, and at least 37 of those individuals have voted in New Mexico elections.
Duran, a former state senator and county clerk, said New Mexico has had close elections in which some officials have won or lost by a handful of votes.
"I know New Mexicans will agree that even one illegal vote is one too many," she said.
Meanwhile, both immigrant and voter rights groups questioned the validity of the review.
"Basically it's an absurd way of trying to ferret out people who are illegally registering. There has been no evidence to show that immigrants who are either legally permanent residents or undocumented are trying to do it," said Marcela Diaz of the immigrant rights group Somos Un Pueblo Unido.
The issue of whether New Mexico should issue driver's licenses to foreign nationals, particularly illegal immigrants, has been the focus of much debate during the legislative session.
Immigrant applicants for a driver's license don't need a Social Security number as part of their identification. Instead, they can submit a taxpayer identification number issued by the federal government along with other identification such as a passport and a Matricula Consular card issued by a Mexican consulate.
Two other states - Washington and Utah - also allow illegal immigrants to get licenses because their laws do not require proof of citizenship. However, Utah's driving permits cannot be used as a government identification card.
A spokesman for Gov. Susana Martinez said the initial report from the secretary of state's office should be a concern for New Mexicans.
"Each and every illegally cast vote disenfranchises a New Mexican, and this is yet another reason why the governor strongly supports repealing the law that gives driver's licenses to illegal immigrants," said spokesman Scott Darnell.
Under a 2003 law, more than 80,000 driver's licenses have gone to foreign nationals. The state says it doesn't know how many of those went to illegal immigrants because it doesn't ask the immigration status of license applicants.
Official suspects illegal entrants of voting in NM
Secretary of State Dianna Duran issued a statement Tuesday evening that provided details of her office's findings after two days of cross checking the databases.
The office matched 117 voter registrations to names and dates of birth in the database of foreign national license holders. All 117 have Social Security numbers on their voter registrations that do not match their names, and at least 37 of those individuals have voted in New Mexico elections.
Duran, a former state senator and county clerk, said New Mexico has had close elections in which some officials have won or lost by a handful of votes.
"I know New Mexicans will agree that even one illegal vote is one too many," she said.
Meanwhile, both immigrant and voter rights groups questioned the validity of the review.
"Basically it's an absurd way of trying to ferret out people who are illegally registering. There has been no evidence to show that immigrants who are either legally permanent residents or undocumented are trying to do it," said Marcela Diaz of the immigrant rights group Somos Un Pueblo Unido.
The issue of whether New Mexico should issue driver's licenses to foreign nationals, particularly illegal immigrants, has been the focus of much debate during the legislative session.
Immigrant applicants for a driver's license don't need a Social Security number as part of their identification. Instead, they can submit a taxpayer identification number issued by the federal government along with other identification such as a passport and a Matricula Consular card issued by a Mexican consulate.
Two other states - Washington and Utah - also allow illegal immigrants to get licenses because their laws do not require proof of citizenship. However, Utah's driving permits cannot be used as a government identification card.
A spokesman for Gov. Susana Martinez said the initial report from the secretary of state's office should be a concern for New Mexicans.
"Each and every illegally cast vote disenfranchises a New Mexican, and this is yet another reason why the governor strongly supports repealing the law that gives driver's licenses to illegal immigrants," said spokesman Scott Darnell.
Under a 2003 law, more than 80,000 driver's licenses have gone to foreign nationals. The state says it doesn't know how many of those went to illegal immigrants because it doesn't ask the immigration status of license applicants.
Official suspects illegal entrants of voting in NM
