The state Government Accountability Board is working on solutions for how to comply with federal laws on mailing ballots to overseas voters. The federal government last week denied Wisconsin’s request for a waiver on when ballots for the November election need to sent out, citing concerns that they may not reach voters in time.
GAB Director Kevin Kennedy says they need to be sent 45 days before the election, but Wisconsin currently is only able to mail them out to military voters 41 days before the election and other overseas voters 31 days before the November 2nd election. Wisconsin’s primary is September 14th and it takes two weeks to certify the results before ballots are printed.
Kennedy says staff is working with the Department of Justice on resolving the problem, but declined to publicly discuss how during a board meeting on Monday. He says there are several possible solutions they are currently considering.
Kennedy says staff right now is only looking at how to get through the upcoming conflict with the November election. However, he says changes may be needed down the road, such as moving up primary dates in the future to prevent the conflict from occuring in the next federal election.
