Federal Judge rejects one part of Florida's controversial elections bill

The question before Hinkle did not include changes to early voting and other controversial parts of the law that still are at issue in the Washington, D.C. court case.

Those other provisions include reducing the number of days allowed for early voting in the state, as well as requiring Florida registered voters to have to re-register if they moved to a different county. Failing to do so would force them to vote with a provisional ballot, which would not be counted on election day.

Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson responded to Hinkle's ruling by saying, "This law clearly was designed to stop people from voting, and I?m glad to see the judge?s ruling."

The Chair of the Florida Democratic party, Rod Smith, was similarly pleased, saying, "Under Gov. Rick Scott, Florida Republican?s have led an unprecedented assault on voting rights ? a basic right of all Americans ? and it must stop. Today?s decision is a victory for the people of Florida and a defeat to the extremist GOP leadership in Tallahassee. ?

The League of Women Voters filed the lawsuit against former Secretary of State Kurt Browning last year after the law went into effect. The LWV announced after the law was passed that would stop registering voters after more than 70 years because of the potential fines, which would go up to $1,000.