Alabama: state will delay runoff
AP reports: The Alabama Legislature is ready to move Alabama's primary runoff from June 27 to July 18 to give military serving overseas adequate time to cast absentee ballots and end a lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department.
The House voted 92-3 Wednesday for legislation delaying the runoff three weeks for state and municipal elections. The revised bill, sponsored by Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne, got approved by the Senate 22-0 late Wednesday night. It now goes to Gov. Bob Riley, who plans to sign it into law, spokesman David Ford said.
Republican Attorney General Troy King and Democratic Secretary of State Nancy Worley recommended the three-week delay after the Justice Department sued Alabama, saying there is not enough time between the primary election June 6 and the runoff June 27 for military overseas, particularly those in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive and cast absentee ballots.
Supporters said the Legislature had the choice of negating the suit by delaying the runoff or fighting the Justice Department. -- Welcome to TimesDaily.com