Reply #10: AL: Legislature Appears Poised to Delay Primary Runoff Elections

[livvy]

Posted on Fri, Mar. 31, 2006


Legislature appears poised to delay primary runoff elections

BOB JOHNSON
Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - While two different bills are pending, the Alabama Legislature appears poised to vote to delay the June 27 primary runoff elections until July 18 to give time for military service members overseas to cast ballots.

The U.S. Justice Department has sued the state, claiming there is not enough time between the primary election June 6 and the runoffs on June 27 for military personnel overseas to receive and return absentee ballots. State officials have said it currently takes 10 to 15 days for mail to reach soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Alabama Senate and the House have divided on how to solve the problem. The Senate on Thursday passed a bill to move the primary runoffs back to July 18 and to allow overseas military ballots to be counted if they are received up to a week after the runoffs. The House earlier approved legislation that would keep the runoffs on June 27, but would allow soldiers overseas to use special ballots in the June 6 vote allowing soldiers to mark their runoff preferences in races with three or more candidates.

Attorney General Troy King said Friday that the Justice Department has expressed reservations about allowing use of the special ballots. King said he believes the House will go along with the Senate and vote to delay the runoffs until July 18.

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