The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the state of Vermont and Secretary of State Jim Condos.
The legal action aims to ensure that Vermont military personnel and others serving overseas can get their absentee ballots in on time, after a delay in sending ballots out to some of those voters.
The department said yesterday that it’s seeking an order requiring Vermont to accept overseas ballots until November 16.
The department said it filed the lawsuit after the state failed to send more than 20 percent of the ballots out by the deadline.
Condos, a Democrat, said a recount in a Progressive primary race delayed the printing of the November ballots. But, he said, town clerks were sent electronic copies and most overseas voters should have received their ballots on time.