The Associated Press: Military ballot law has states in a time squeeze

The Associated Press: Military ballot law has states in a time squeeze:

A new law meant to protect the voting rights of deployed troops and other Americans overseas is forcing at least a dozen states to consider holding their primaries earlier or to negotiate another plan that federal officials will accept.

Ballots must be sent to certain voters at least 45 days before an election under a requirement included in a major defense bill signed Wednesday by President Barack Obama. It leaves states with 2010 primaries in August and September in a pickle because the deadline for distributing November ballots will pass by the time many certify the results of the primary.

"You can't print a ballot until you know who won," said Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, who is urging his state's lawmakers to shift the Sept. 14 primary by at least a month. "And you can't print ballots in five seconds. It takes several days to print a ballot. Then you have to put them in the mail."