GALVESTON (June 13, 2012)--Former Gov. Mark White has testified that voter registration restrictions approved by the 2011 Legislature are unnecessary and make it tougher to register voters.

White testified Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Galveston on the final day of a hearing challenging the new provisions.

White, a Democrat, was secretary of state in the 1970s and helped overhaul the state's election code then.

Assistant Attorney General Kathlyn Wilson argued the updated rules are meant to prevent fraud.

The nonpartisan group Project Vote is seeking to block provisions regulating large-scale, community-based voter registration efforts.

In February the group sued Secretary of State Hope Andrade and the voter registrar in Galveston County.

U.S. District Judge Gregg Costa has given both sides a week to submit further information.