Tough new voter ID rule in Pennsylvania halted by judge

One of the toughest of a new wave of U.S. state laws in a debate over voting rights was put on hold Tuesday as a judge postponed Pennsylvania's controversial voter identification requirement just weeks before the presidential election.

The 6-month-old law in one of the most prized states in the November election has become a high-profile issue in the contest between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Independent polls show a persistent lead for Obama in the state.

The law requires each voter to show a valid photo ID. Pollsters have said the requirement could mean that fewer people, especially the poor and minorities, end up voting. In the past, lower turnouts in Pennsylvania have benefited Republicans.

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