Justice Dept. approves state's early voting plan | News

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Obama administration is agreeing to a proposal that will reduce the number of early voting days in five Florida counties covered by the federal Voting Rights Act.

The Justice Department decision ends a lengthy battle over a controversial election law passed by the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature last year.

The department late Wednesday notified a federal court in Washington, D.C., that it approved a Florida plan to provide 96 hours of early voting over eight days in Hillsborough, Collier, Hendry, Hardee and Monroe counties.

Justice Department or federal court approval is required for any changes in election laws affecting those counties due to past racial discrimination.

The D.C. court had previously raised questions about Florida's plan to cut the number early voting days.