Why did Washington State seek a waiver of the new federal requirement that ballots be mailed out 45 days before the election?
Most of Washington’s counties are expecting to be able to issue ballots 45 days prior to the election but Washington’s late primary and certification date leave a very short window for election officials to design, print, assemble and mail ballots by the 45-day deadline. Washington’s primary is certified on September 7. The 45-day deadline for mailing ballots to military and overseas voters is September 18. Not all counties may be able to design, print, assemble and mail ballots in that 11-day window, so a waiver was sought to prevent Washington from being in violation of federal law.
Related Questions
- What is the new federal law that requires military and overseas ballots to be mailed 45 days before a federal election?
- Does the NTTA plan to seek a waiver from new guidelines being developed by the federal government regarding levees?
- Why can most states get ballots out 45 days before the election but 11 states need a waiver?
