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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A bill to require proof of United States citizenship before allowing first-timers to register to vote passed the Utah Senate today.
The bill requires photocopies of documents such as a birth certificate, passports, or naturalization documents to be provided in conjunction with a proof address at the time of registration.
A Utah driver's license alone would NO longer be sufficient proof to register because it is only proves state residency, not citizenship status.
The Senate passed the bill 19-to-ten. It now goes to House for consideration.
The bill's sponsor, Lehi Republican Senator Mark Madsen, says the measure helps preserve the integrity of elections.
Opponents of the bill worry that the bill may disenfranchise some voters and will increase work for state and county elections officials.
A statewide database that will be ready in 2006 will also improve voter registration tracking.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
