RALEIGH -- A day after ruling parts of North Carolina's new voting law to be set aside for the November election, a federal appeals court has refused to block the implementation of its ruling, as requested by the state.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals split 2-1 on Wednesday. The court says same-day registration should be allowed and ballots cast outside a voter's assigned precinct should be considered.

Chris Brook - Legal Director with the ACLU of North Carolina - said, "This is a fantastic first step in dismantling the massive voter-suppression bill that was pushed through by the legislature in 2013."

The Republican-backed law was challenged by civil rights groups and the U.S. Justice Department. It is considered one of the toughest in the nation.