NM secretary of state checks licenses, voter rolls

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico secretary of state's office is cross checking the state's voter rolls with a list of thousands of foreign nationals who have been issued driver's licenses.

The work is far from done, but Secretary of State Dianna Duran testified during a House committee Tuesday that the review has turned up evidence of foreign nationals obtaining a license, registering to vote and casting ballots.

A spokesman for Gov. Susana Martinez, Scott Darnell, says the initial report from Duran's office should concern every New Mexican. He says the review's findings are another reason the governor wants to stop issuing licenses to illegal immigrants.

Under a 2003 law, the state has issued more than 80,000 driver's licenses to foreign nationals, including illegal immigrants.

Both immigrant and voter rights groups questioned the validity of the review.