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Medical copays reduce health care access in MS prisons; Israel planted explosives in pagers sold to Hezbollah according to official sources; Serving looks with books: Libraries fight 'fast fashion' by lending clothes; Menhaden decline threatens Virginia's ecosystem, fisheries.

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JD Vance calls for toning down political rhetoric, while calls for his resignation grow because of his own comments. The Secret Service again faces intense criticism, and a right to IVF is again voted down in the US Senate.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Report: Some Minnesota Voters “Run Out of Time”

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Wednesday, January 7, 2009   

St. Paul, MN – Minnesota led the nation in voter turnout for the last election, but a study finds there's room for improvement. Pew Center on the States reviewed absentee ballot filing by overseas military personnel and concludes Minnesota is “at risk” for not allowing them enough time to complete the process.

David Becker, the Center's Make Voting Work project director, says the states need to make sure all registered voters can have their say.

"When our servicemen and women don't have enough time to vote, their votes often don't count. And, who can deny that they have as much right as any citizen to express their voices in our Democracy?"

He says Minnesota and other "at risk" states allow servicemen and women only five or fewer additional days to complete the voting process, and that’s not enough because of delays caused by additional requirements and lengthy mail delivery times. The study finds only about one-third of the one million ballots distributed to military and overseas voters are cast or counted.

Becker says voting regulations should give all those eligible to participate an equal opportunity to do so – but that’s not currently the case.

"It's very, very difficult, from the perspective of the voter overseas, to figure out how to navigate through the system."

The report recommends Minnesota send out ballots earlier and extend the deadline for getting them back.

The study, No Time to Vote, is at www.pewtrusts.org




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