ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A federal judge has granted a brief extension of Virginia's voter registration deadline after heavy demand prevented some voters from registering online.
Judge Claude Hilton on Thursday ordered an immediate reopening of voter registration in the commonwealth through Friday.
At a hearing in federal court in Alexandria, state officials actually wanted to extend the deadline even longer, through Monday. But Hilton said he only wanted to extend the process long enough to make up for the computer glitches that occurred in the hours leading up to the original Oct. 17 deadline.
A voter advocacy group sued state officials this week seeking the extension.
Virginia elections commissioner Edgardo Cortes says the department will notify voters of the extension. He says they can register online or by mail with a Friday postmark.