A federal court says a Florida law that restricts the number of early-voting days could result in a dramatic reduction in voting by blacks.
The Republican-controlled Florida legislature last year cut the number of early-voting days to 8 from 12.
But the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled late Thursday that because of the law's potential impact on minority voters, it would not allow Florida to put the changes in place in five Florida counties covered by federal voting laws.
The 119-page ruling did say there were ways that the state could ultimately come up with a plan to change early voting that would not adversely impact minority voting rights.
Still the ruling raises the prospect that Florida will have two different types of early voting for this year's crucial presidential election.