To comply with a new federal law, legislators want to move Minnesota's primary election up five week

[ccharles000]

DFL legislative leaders will try again this session to move the state's primary election from September to August, even though Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed such a shift last year.

This time around, however, an earlier primary date is being prompted by a new federal law that all but mandates it.

A massive defense spending bill signed into law last year contains a provision that requires states to give overseas voters -- including those in the military -- at least 45 days to mail back their general election ballots this fall.

In the 2008 election, about 11,400 Minnesotans cast ballots from overseas in the general election. About 4 percent of those came back too late to be counted, according to the Minnesota secretary of state's office.

Minnesota's current election schedule, with its September primary, would make it nearly impossible for the state to comply with the law.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/83643042.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

[rwheeler31]

1. Good idea.