Fla. must figure out what to do with early voting | News

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida officials say they want the state to have one set of voting standards for the upcoming presidential election.

But the administration of Gov. Rick Scott hasn't decided yet how to respond to a court ruling that calls new restrictions on early voting a burden on minorities.

A federal court in Washington D.C. ruled late Thursday that changes already in place in most counties cannot take effect in five Florida counties covered by federal voting laws.

The ruling raises the prospect of having longer early voting periods in Tampa than in urban areas such as Miami.

The state could appeal the decision, or come up with an alternative plan to give the court.

Some groups Friday called on Scott to restore early voting periods to the way before 2011.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)