HARTFORD — The House of Representatives has approved legislation that could eventually lead to early voting in Connecticut.

House members voted 81-65 on Thursday in favor of a resolution that would ask voters to amend the state's constitution to allow people to cast their ballots before Election Day. The bill now moves to the Senate.

If the legislation clears the Senate, it must be adopted again next year by both chambers in order for it to appear on the 2020 general election ballot. A majority of voters would then have to approve it.

Democratic Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says more than one-third of U.S. voters cast their ballots before Election Day in 2016.

Republicans unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill by requiring voters to present a photo ID before voting.