Absentee ballots late for Wisconsin military

Wisconsin (CBS)    A conflict between State Law and Constitutional Law--- means those in the military --- who vote absentee ballot-- will have three less days to do so in the Recall Election.

According to officials at the Government Accountabilit Board, Wisconsin State Law requires that absentee ballots be available to voters 21 days before the election, in the Recall that's may 15th.  But that won't be possible.

Once a Recall is ordered, the Constitution clearly states when the election must be held-- in this case-- on June 5th.

But the problem is that absentee ballots from the primary weren't due until Friday, May 11th.  So, the ballots won't be certified until next week.   Which means the ballots won't be ready to be mailed until May 18th, three days after the deadline.

"After we get the County's (ballots) back, we have to wait 3 business days in order to certify the results statewide, which we are planning to do at 5pm on Thursday the 17th.  As soon as we do that then the municipal clerks can start sending out absentee ballots."  Said Reid Magney with the Government Accountability Board.

Magney says Constitutional Law trumps State Statutes.  But it still allows the absentee voters--- 18 days to get their ballots e-mailed, mailed or faxed.

Lt. Colonel Jackie Guthrie with the Wisconsin National Guard says soldiers who plan on voting absentee should have enough time to do so.

Lt. Colonel Guthrie says the guard has an active Voter Assistance Program that works with soldiers to make sure they have the voting information they need ahead of time.

There were some soldiers who plan to vote that had concerns-- but those concerns have been dealt with.

This does not pertain to non-military American's living overseas, they cannot vote in state elections-- only Federal ones.