WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vermont to consider moving up primary
Member Center:
Associated Press - November 9, 2009 5:45 AM ET
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont Legislature will consider moving up the date of next year's primary, a move that Gov. Jim Douglas says is motivated by politics, to give political candidates more time to campaign.
But Democratic Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, who is running for governor, says the reason to is to make sure Vermont soldiers serving overseas can vote.
Congress has passed a law that says states must send out absentee ballots to overseas voters at least 45 days before the November election.
Vermont Public Radio says that that deadline could make it hard for Vermont to keep the Sept. 14 primary and get the ballots out in time.
Douglas says the state has other options, such as seeking a waiver from the federal government.
Information from: WVPS-FM, http://www.vpr.net
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
