Montgomery, AL – Alabama Attorney General Troy King has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit the U.S. Justice Department filed accusing the state of violating a law that protects absentee voters overseas.
The lawsuit state officials of failing to file reports on overseas absentee ballots as required by a 2002 federal law. It seeks to compel Alabama officials to file the required reports for the Nov. 4 election.
In a motion, King says the lawsuit is premature and asks U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins to dismiss it because states are not required to file the report until 90 days after the election.
Secretary of State Beth Chapman filed a report earlier this month showing that 5,743 absentee ballots were cast in the Nov. 4 election by overseas voters.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)