Saturday, October 30, 2010
Robert Lang

A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the state to extend the deadline for accepting overseas ballots by 10 days.

Judge Roger Titus issued an order on Friday extending the deadline for them to be received from Nov. 12 to Nov. 22.

The judge ruled on a lawsuit brought by a member of the Maryland National Guard, who sued the state board of elections because he says overseas voters have not been given enough time to obtain and return ballots for next week’s election.

The plaintiff alleged that officials mailed overseas ballots listing candidates for federal office only by the deadline set in a new federal law designed to protect military voters. They say this prevents them from voting for state office candidates, including governor.