RI granted military ballot law waiver

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island has been granted a waiver from a new federal law designed to protect the voting rights of military personnel and other Americans overseas.

The law requires ballots to be sent to overseas voters at least 45 days before an election, which is Sept. 18.

Chris Barnett, a spokesman for Secretary of State Ralph Mollis, says on Friday that the U.S. Department of Defense granted the waiver.

He says the state applied for the waiver as insurance in case there is a recount, and despite the request, Rhode Island expects to meet the act's requirements.

Nine states and the District of Columbia requested a waiver. Massachusetts and Delaware have also been granted a waiver, but Wisconsin was not.