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Federal judge set to weigh Wisconsin voting changes

MADISON, WI (AP)--   A federal judge is set to begin a trial to help him decide whether changes Republicans have made to Wisconsin voting laws illegally burden minorities and other Democratic-leaning constituencies. 

Liberal group One Wisconsin Institute social justice group Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund and 10 voters filed the lawsuit last June.

They allege sections of Wisconsin's voter ID requirement, reductions in early voting windows and tougher voter registration standards unconstitutionally burden minorities, young people, the elderly and the poor's voting rights.

U.S. District Judge James Peterson is scheduled to begin the trial on Monday morning. It won't feature a jury, leaving the final decision up to the judge. The proceeding is expected to last nine days.

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