A bill to step up the state's oversight of vote centers and elections won initial backing in the Senate on Tuesday after heated debate over who should or shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Republicans made an unsuccessful bid to require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Clashes also broke out over whether parolees should be allowed to vote and the privacy of the ballot box.Senate Bill 83 would require the secretary of state to set guidelines for vote centers and beef up its oversight of how counties are conducting elections.

"This bill is meant to add safeguards in the law to prevent the election fiasco of the last election," said the measure's sponsor, Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder.

Republicans cited concerns that illegal immigrants are being allowed to vote. "If we require proof of citizenship, that would inspire confidence in our entire voting system," said freshman Sen. Steve Ward, R-Littleton.

The Senate on a 20-15 party- line voted killed the amendment.

Democrats contend Republicans have offered no substantial proof that illegal immigrants are lining up at the polls.

The election-reform measure comes in the wake of November's election meltdown in Denver and Douglas counties that left voters standing in long lines.

The measure, expected to win the Senate's final approval today, increases the number of voting machines used during an election and requires counties to open one vote center per 5,000 voters.

The measure also would allow parolees released from prison to vote, prompting stern criticism from Republicans.

"The state constitution itself prohibits those who have not served out their entire prison term from voting," said Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita.

But Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, had a different view. Groff, who amended the bill to allow parolees to vote, argued that state law bans anyone confined behind bars from voting.

"When you look at moving people from prison to society, the more things you can make them responsible for, the less likely they'll go back in prison," he said.

washingtonam@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5086