Pennsylvania to Fight U.S. Suit on Absentee Votes

[951]

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Pennsylvania will contest a federal lawsuit seeking to give the state's absentee voters an extra two weeks to return their ballots in the presidential election, an official said on Wednesday.

Pennsylvania Department of State spokesman Brian McDonald said the state will challenge a suit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, which asked a court in Harrisburg to order an extension of the deadline for receipt of absentee ballots in the Nov. 2 election until Nov. 17 so all votes can be counted.

McDonald said voters would be able to return ballots by election day since the state is considering paying for voters to use overnight mail. "We are prepared for anything that the courts will throw at us," he said.

The Justice Department believes there is not enough time for absentee voters to return ballots by election day.

A Harrisburg court ruled on Wednesday that Independent candidate Ralph Nader could not appear on the ballot in Pennsylvania, meaning some counties must now mail out fresh absentee ballots to soldiers and civilians overseas registered to vote in the state...

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=6493169&src=rss/politicsNews§ion=news

[CO Liberal]

1. They Should Have to Be POSTMARKED No Later Than Election Day

That would prevent the Repubs from trying to stuff the ballot box, like they tried to do with military absentee ballots in 2000.