PHOENIX -- Arizona Democrats got the go-ahead Thursday to allow voting by computer in next month's presidential primary, in what would be the nation's first binding election for public office using the Internet.

In a letter to party officials, the Justice Department said that Attorney General Janet Reno had no objections. However, one concern cited was whether participation for affluent whites would increase more than minorities because of their greater access to computers and the Internet.

"This pretty much says we can go ahead with our election," state Party Chairman Mark Fleisher said. "It also says they're going to keep looking over our shoulder, but that's to be expected."

The party still faces another hurdle -- a lawsuit alleging that voting by computer would discriminate against minorities and the poor. A three-judge panel is scheduled to hear the case next week.

Democrats plan to set up about 125 polling places where party voters may either fill out traditional paper ballots or use a computer terminal to vote online March 11. Voters also have the option of casting votes early by logging on to the party's Web site from March 7-10.