WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Feds Drop Lawsuit Over Vt. Ballots
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Caroline EarleMontpelier, Vermont - December 12, 2008
The federal government has dropped a lawsuit claiming Vermont had improperly tallied absentee ballots from overseas residents.
The U.S. Justice Department filed the suit against the Vermont's Secretary of State three months ago. But Friday, the feds acknowledged that Vermont had actually done a better job of accounting for the ballots than most other states.
"They were obligated to recognize today in District Court our efforts and indeed our compliance with the law and the judge recognized that as well. So, despite unfortunately not a collaborative approach, we did comply with the law as we had promised to do and so today we were delighted that was recognized in federal court," said Caroline Earle, Vt. Assistant Attorney General.
Vt. Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz told Channel 3 News that she was certain the state had properly complied with the law and is gratified the federal government has now acknowledged that.
Brian Joyce - WCAX News
