SANTA FE - Democrats closed ranks Thursday to block a bill that would have required most voters to show photo identification.

The House Voters and Elections Committee tabled the proposal on a 7-6, party-line vote.

The sponsor, Rep. Dianne Hamilton, R-Silver City, said she was disappointed to be defeated again, her third try at a photo ID system for voters. Her bill would have exempted absentee voters and those with tribal identification numbers from having to provide photo IDs. Hamilton said many tribal members do not like to be photographed.

Rep. Edward Sandoval, D-Albuquerque, said he voted to block the bill because it would treat New Mexicans differently. Those who vote in person would be held to a stricter standard than those who mail in ballots.

County clerks also opposed Hamilton's bill. Some favor a photo identification system, but they said the bill was poorly conceived.

The potential for voter fraud is greatest with absentee ballots, yet Hamilton's proposal ignored that, said Daniel Ivey-Soto, executive director of the clerks' organization.

Hamilton said requiring photo identification from in-person voters was a first step. Her initial bill two years ago covered absentee voters, but Democrats blocked it too.

"It didn't matter what I did. They just weren't going to pass this," she said of the Democrats.

Rep. Debbie Rodella, D-Espanola, said there are older people in her district who do not drive and do not have photo identification. But come Election

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Day, they go to the polls to exercise their right, Rodella said.

Hamilton's bill would force those conscientious citizens to travel to a motor vehicle licensing office to obtain a state identification card, Rodella said. In some cases, she said, it would discourage people from voting.

Republican Rep. Cathrynn Brown, in the committee hearing as an observer, filed an alternative voter identification bill Thursday afternoon.

Brown, of Carlsbad, said the testimony about absentee ballots influenced her. She drafted a bill that would require those voting absentee to include a copy of their photo identification.

Brown's proposal would also exempt those with tribal identification numbers from having to produce a photo ID.

One Democrat, Rep. Dona Irwin of Deming, and independent Andy Nunez of Hatch, signed on as cosponsors of Brown's bill. Her proposal is HB 577.

Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@tnmnp.com or (505) 820-6898. His blog is at http://elpasotimes.typepad.com/newmexico.

How they voted

• Those who voted to table, or block, Rep. Dianne Hamilton's bill, which would have required most people to provide photo identification to vote: Reps. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces; Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe; Ken Martinez, D-Grants; Danice Picraux, D-Albuquerque; James Madalena, D-Jemez Pueblo; Debbie Rodella, D-Espanola; and Edward Sandoval, D-Albuquerque.

• Those who voted against tabling the bill: Reps. Conrad James, R-Albuquerque; Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque; Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque; Thomas A. Anderson, R-Albuquerque; James E. Smith, R-Sandia Park; and Shirley Tyler, R-Lovington.