By Associated Press
Washington DC – A federal judge agreed Monday to give Gov. Bob Riley an extra two months to develop a statewide computerized voter registration system that was due Aug. 31.
U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins said there was no reasonable alternative to allowing the governor the extra time he had requested.
"The governor is pleased the judge has given the extra time, and we have every expectation of being in full compliance before the end of the extension is reached," said Jeff Emerson, the governor's communications director.
The U.S. Justice Department sued Alabama last year after then-Secretary of State Nancy Worley missed the deadline for developing the system. Watkins turned over the duties to Riley with a new deadline of Aug. 31.
On the deadline, Riley told the judge that the state needed two more months to tie together computers in state agencies that are used to verify voter data and remove the names of voters who die or are convicted of certain crimes.
The judge wrote Monday that his overriding concern is having Alabama complete the voter registration system, which is required by the Help American Vote Act.
At the request of the Justice Department, the judge scheduled a hearing for Oct. 24 - one week before the new deadline - to get an update on the project.