press release:
Gessler Calls Decision “A Victory for Colorado’s Military and Overseas Voters.”
DENVER – The Department of Justice announced Friday that it would deny Colorado’s request to delay getting ballots to military and overseas voters.
“The Department of Defense doesn’t buy into the notion that we can’t get ballots out 45-days before the general election. This decision is a major victory for Colorado’s military and overseas voters,” Scott Gessler said Friday. “Bernie Buescher should have solved this problem ten months ago, but now local officials will have to scramble to get ballots out in time.”
Nine states and Washington D.C. filed for waivers exempting them from sending ballots to military and overseas voters 45-days before the general election. Washington D.C. and four other states, including Colorado, were denied the waiver, mandating they follow federal guidelines.
Congress passed into law the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (S. 1415) on October 22, 2009. Six days later, Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher decided Colorado would seek a waiver.
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