Vermont Challenges Ballot Lawsuit

Vermont and the secretary of state are seeking to have a federal lawsuit dismissed over the reporting of military absentee ballots.

The lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice asks the court to declare that Vermont failed to meet the reporting requirement on the number of absentee ballots sent and returned from members of the military and Vermonters living overseas in 2006. The lawsuit alleges that the state is likely to have a similar failure in the upcoming election and seeks to prevent that from happening.

The state says the Justice Department does not allege any improprieties related to the transmission, return or casting of the ballots. It also says it has agreed to comply with the requirement.