One of the most disruptive features of the 2014 election cycle was a result of a court ruling that in order to allow overseas soldiers enough time to vote in congressional and presidential primaries, and if needed runoff elections, absentee ballots would need to be provided 45 days prior to these elections (UOCAVA).
Following the judge’s ruling, legislature passed bills to move primary elections and if needed runoff elections. But it turns out some runoff elections are so late, that overseas voters miss out.
On Tuesday, a district court in Georgia ruled that the 45-day transmittal requirement applies to runoff elections for federal office, and that the runoff election schemes violated UOCAVA. After the district court had issued its ruling and after the briefs in this appeal were filed, the Georgia Legislature passed H.B. 310, which in relevant part amends Georgia’s election calendar and voting procedures to comply with the 45-day transmittal requirement.
We will have to see how other states handle this problem.
What I find interesting, is states that follow the congressional law to the letter, and will not change their state election dates to accommodate the UOCAVA law.
Rank-Choice voting will eliminate the need for run-offs as well as reduce a states cost to run elections.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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