Wis.'s late primary comes with headache for state

The primary election season comes to a close Tuesday in Wisconsin and six other states where officials did not comply with a federal requirement for an earlier vote.

Under the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, states must provide a 45-day window between the primary and general elections to ensure that the votes cast by military personnel and other Americans living abroad get counted back home. Minnesota lawmakers moved the state primary from September to August.

Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said a few states tried to get waivers.

"Wisconsin rolled the dice and they lost," Ritchie said. "The federal government said no, and so they have a mess on their hands."

Wisconsin will accept absentee ballots from overseas voters until November 19th, under an agreement reached with the U.S. Justice Department.

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