SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Senate narrowly passed a proposed ballot measure Monday that would allow people to register to vote as late as election day, over Republican protests that the move would encourage voter fraud.

The measure was approved 16-13 over solid GOP opposition and now goes to the House.

If it clears the House the proposed constitutional amendment would be on the November 2006 ballot.

The measure would do way with the current deadline that requires people to register to vote by 20 days before elections.

Under the proposed change, citizens could not register by mail less than 20 days before elections but would have to go to a county elections office, show identification and sign a document.

The 20-day registration cutoff was put into the state constitution by voters in 1986, after followers of the late Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh took steps to bring in busloads of homeless people to register and vote in Wasco County.

Rajneesh was deported to India after a 1985 conviction of immigration fraud and died in 1990.

Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, said election-day registration would provide opportunities for interest groups to "pack the voter rolls" by recruiting people to sign up to vote.

He said election clerks would be faced with verifying identification "in a haphazard and pressured environment" at the last minute.

"Election officials don't want to do this," he said. "There's no reason not to be suspicious of this issue."

But Sen. Ryan Deckert, sponsor of the measure, said registering fraudulently is a felony and that he doubts if people would risk it.

The Beaverton Democrat said six other states allow registration as late as election day.

"Oregon has one of the most stringent voter lockout periods in the country," he said.

Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, said getting fake identification is not a big problem.

Authorities "find people with 30 and 40 IDs," he said.