In the 2008 Presidential election, 400,000 ballots were not counted because they were submitted late from being overseas. In response, President Barack Obama sought the creation of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act in order to avoid such incidents and give the overseas citizens and soldiers absentee ballots at least 45 days prior to an election or primary.
This week, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a bill that moved Minnesota's primary voting date to the second Tuesday in August from the second Tuesday in September. The early primary is causing concern for some - especially college students who wouldn’t be back to school until September and political candidates whose campaign dates will have to be reformatted.
Despite the feedback by concerned citizens and politicians; Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has stated that the change was necessary to give citizens and soldiers around the world an easier voting process.