In recent days, I have been inundated with questions about mail-in ballots. Specifically, there is a high level of concern and confusion about whether all of the litigation over third-party ballot access (yes I'm talking about RFK Jr., but he's not the only one!) will cause states to miss key deadlines to send ballots out to voters.
The good news is that federal law offers a key protection for military and overseas voters that will, in turn, protect all voters who wish to cast a ballot by mail in this election.
Enacted in 2009, the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act requires states to send out mail-in ballots to military and overseas voters no later than 45 days before the election. This year, that date is this Saturday, Sept. 21. Though there is a provision for states to seek a “hardship” waiver, those exemptions are rare. Even though this law only applies to military and overseas voters, counties will need a final list of eligible candidates to appear on all ballots before the first ones are sent out.
Here is the latest you need to know in nine states that you have written in and asked about…
