U.S. relents on Florida voter check

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 15 (UPI) -- The federal government said it will allow Florida officials to use a roster of U.S. citizens in the state as part of a move to prevent non-citizens from voting.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreed to make its database available to Florida officials, who will use it to cross-check the names on the state's roster of registered voters. The agency had refused to allow access to the SAVE database for more than a year.

The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times reported Sunday the reason for the DHS' change of tune was not clear; however, the newspapers noted a federal judge last week refused to halt the state's purging of voters lists.

The standoff pitted Republican Gov. Rick Scott against Democrats and voter-rights' advocates who contended the review of registered voters was aimed at preventing Democratic-leaning voters from casting their ballots in the November election.