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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina s congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Myorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Military Voting Made Easier – Plan Unveiled for WYO

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010   

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Wyomingites serving in the military or working overseas have faced challenges in voting, with a report last year noting that local and state elections materials aren't being sent early enough to make sure ballots can be returned and counted. The national Uniform Law Commission just gave its stamp of approval to a "model law" that aims to help Wyoming fix the glitches.

Doug Chapin, director of election initiatives for the Pew Center on the States, offered input on the project. He says meeting election time lines while respecting the way local, state and federal elections operate isn't an easy task, which is why the new "model law" was needed.

"We wanted to give states guidance about how they can get ballots out faster, how they can send them sooner, and how they can give overseas Americans an opportunity to cast and return them in time to be counted."

Provisions include mandating that absentee ballots for all elections be sent out at least 45 days before an election, requiring electronic transmission of all voting materials upon request, and eliminating the requirement that ballots be notarized.

Chapin says tapping into modern technologies is a big step because of concerns about privacy and security.

"Using e-mail, or the Web, to deliver blank ballots-unmarked ballots, and voting information to voters overseas, really is kind of the cutting edge."

For federal elections, Congress approved the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act late last year, so now it's up to states to bring their codes into compliance.

Information about the Uniform Law Commission at www.nccusl.org.

The report about overseas residents not receiving materials in time is at
www.pewtrusts.org


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