Wisconsin's late primary

Posted at 12:43 PM on September 14, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010

The primary election season comes to a close today in Wisconsin and six other states where officials did not comply with a federal requirement for an earlier vote.

Under the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, states must provide a 45-day window between the primary and general elections to ensure that the votes cast by military personnel and other Americans living abroad get counted back home. Minnesota lawmakers moved the state primary from September to August. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie says a few states tried to get waivers.

"When the federal government stepped in I think they rolled the dice and said we're going to ask to avoid this this time and not implement it until the next election," Ritchie said. "Wisconsin rolled the dice and they lost. The federal government said no, and so they have a mess on their hands."

Wisconsin will accept absentee ballots from overseas voters until November 19, under an agreement reached with the U.S. Justice Department.

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