Federal defense bill will bump Colo. primaries
October 28, 2009 6:46 PM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER • Colorado will have to eventually move its primary elections because of a bill signed into law by President Barack Obama.
The defense measure signed Wednesday includes a provision mandating a 45-day period for military service members overseas to send in ballots.
Secretary of State Bernie Buescher says Colorado won't be able to meet that requirement next year and will ask for a waiver.
He says it is too late to move the Aug. 10 primaries to accommodate the 45-day period because the new standard will require a complete rewrite of state election law. Buescher says the state legislature will have to change the election law to comply in the 2012 elections.
