Florida voter purge may restart after ruling

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A lawyer for Florida's local election officials is telling them they can resume a state-directed effort to identify and remove ineligible voters.

Ron Labasky said a judge's ruling on Wednesday clears the way for counties to remove voters from the rolls if there is sufficient evidence that the voter is not a U.S. citizen.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle rejected an argument from federal authorities to block the voter purge because it is too close to the Aug. 14 election.

Many counties had previously suspended efforts to identify voters because of conflicting legal opinions.

Vicki Davis, the Martin County elections supervisor and association president, said many counties may not go forward because they lack enough proof on whether voters are ineligible.