Posted on 08/26/2010 6:41:05 PM PDT by jazusamo
Sens. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Michael Bennet of Colorado are just two incumbents locked in tight re-election races in states where local officials have warned they will likely not be able to ship out general election ballots to overseas military voters by the Sept. 18 deadline.
Both Democrats' race are listed as "toss-ups" by RealClearPolitics.com, and military ballots could make the difference.
But Wisconsin and Colorado are among 10 states where local officials say they may not be able to comply with Move Act provisions that call for ballots to be mailed out at least 45 days before the 2010 midterm election.
Fox News has identified four states -- Wisconsin, Colorado, Maryland and Washington -- where races may hinge on those absentee ballots and on whether their delivery works as intended on behalf of the fighting men and women abroad.
"Russ Feingold's election in 1998 was decided by fewer than 40,000 votes. This time around, our polls are showing him leading by one (percentage) point or maybe down by one point," said Sean Trende of RealClearPolitics.com. "So there is a chance that the 15,000 or so overseas military ballots could be what decides that election, if it ends up within 1,000 votes, which is entirely possible."
And in one Maryland congressional district, Frank Kratovil, a Democratic freshman, also faces a tight race for re-election.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Amen to that!!
It’s horrendous to even think that people serving in the military for this country might not be able to vote! A travesty!
It is several miles, most of it dirt & gravel roads, to get to our poling station. At least 2 miles of those roads are not publicly maintained. It is far from unheard of for several inces of fresh, unplowed snow to be sitting on said roads around that time of year.
The alternative is to, while in town shopping & picking up mail, walk into the county courthouse any time up to 2 weeks prior to election day, and cast an early ballot. Voting boothes and ballot box right there; no need to wait nor to mail.
Beats the living heck out of getting blizzarded out of voting.
Of course, mail in absentee ballots are also available, and we used those when we still had homes in two states, and had a special interest in maintianing legal residency and voting in one, while temporarily staying in the other around election season.
These provisions exist for a reason, and not just to make it easy for ‘Rats to cheat. Not everyone can get a conveniently timed free ride to the polls, walk in, vote immediately, and walk back out, though I have managed it a FEW times over the years, but it was rare.
At least in my state. I have the right to get a mail in ballot. For good cause, for bad cause , or for no cause at all. In my case, I am crippled and there is no way I can stand up for more than 2-3 minutes at a time.
If you're not a lazy SOB then there's no need to be offended, is there?
My state is the same with absentee ballots. I think most states are the same now. But it wasn't always that way. You used to have to sign that an affidavit that said it would be impossible for you go to your polling place to get an absentee ballot. Now it's just for convenience. I have no problem with a legitimate medical condition being a reason you can't get to the polls.
For 24 years while I was active duty I voted absentee because I had to. Now I don't have to. Going to my local precinct is something I really enjoy and I think it adds an element to voting that mailing in a ballot just doesn't have.
“If you’re not a lazy SOB then there’s no need to be offended, is there?”
Your post implies that everyone using an absentee ballot is a lazy SOB.
I dunno about the others, but Delaware and Maryland don't have their primaries until Sept 14. The primary results won't even be certified by the 9/18 deadline, let alone have time to print and mail the ballots out.
Thanks...I believe it was states like them that the waiver was originally made available but it’s my understanding most states filing for the waiver have the time.
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