ALBANY – Critics of Gov. Spitzer‘s decision to grant driver’s licenses to illegal aliens warned yesterday that it will make it easier for noncitizens to register to vote.
“They can vote, [and] they’re not even legal,” said Republican Senate Majority leader Joseph Bruno, who yesterday changed gears from Monday, when he was receptive to Spitzer’s action.
Speaking on WROW-AM radio in Albany, Bruno said he believes part of Spitzer’s intent in allowing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants was to get more Democratic voters.
“This is a political move on the part of the governor to get these people beholden to him,” Bruno said.
Under state election law, a person registering to vote must provide only a Social Security number or a valid state driver’s license as proof of identification.
A person must also sign an affidavit that he or she is a citizen of the United States, although the state Board of Elections does not ask for proof of citizenship, said board spokesman Lee Daghlian.
Spitzer spokeswoman Jennifer Givner said some noncitizens had long been able to get driver’s licenses before the governor announced his change last week, and nobody raised the voting issue.
Additional reporting by Tatiana Deligiannakis