MA gets military ballot waiver
Massachusetts has been granted a waiver by the Department of Defense from a new federal law meant to protect the voting rights of deployed troops and other Americans overseas.
Under the law, ballots must be sent out 45 days before the Nov. 2 election. Massachusetts' primary is Sept. 14, just 49 days before the general election.
Secretary of State William Galvin asked for the waiver by proposing a system he said could get ballots to overseas residents faster than if they were sent out by mail.
The state will electronically send the general election ballots to city and town clerks as soon as they are set. The clerks can send the ballots by mail, fax, e-mail depending on the voter's preference.
Massachusetts was one of nine states and the District of Columbia that requested a waiver.
