Reaching military and overseas voters earlier.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Brief article

The new Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act requires states to send absentee ballots to overseas voters at least 45 days before the next federal election, beginning with those held on Nov, 2, 2010. It's forcing at least 10 states and the District of Columbia to consider holding their primaries earlier or seek a federally approved waiver.

If a conflict prevents a state from meeting the 45-day deadline, it must apply for a hardship waiver with the U.S. Department of Defense's Federal Voting Assistance Program.

The three grounds to qualify for "undue hardship" are:

* The date of the state primary is too close.

* A delay occurs in generating ballots because of a legal contest.

* The state constitution prohibits the state from complying.

Forty-five days before the Nov. 2, 2010, election is Sept. 18.

Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia had planned to hold primaries on Sept. 14, with Hawaii on Sept. 18, 2010. That doesn't give these states enough time to certify...