In presidential elections, typically about three quarters of eligible voters in Minnesota choose to vote. But for Minnesota soldiers overseas… it’s a much different story. Only about 2 to 5 percent of them vote in presidential elections, but it’s not always by choice.

It has been a problem for almost a decade. Since the start of the war, soldiers overseas have been receiving absentee ballots too late, without enough time to send them back home so they arrive by election day.

"That does not seem like the kind of state that Minnesota is. It does not seem like the proper way to approach a serious problem," said Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

Ritchie says for him, the state bill passed this week is bittersweet. He’s pleased that date of this year’s primary election has been moved from September 14th to August 10th… so military voters have more time to send in their ballots. But he’s disappointed that, after significant pressure from the federal government, Minnesota is one of the last states to pass such a law.

"It’s not how I would like Minnesota to be. I don’t want us to be behind other states in terms of our implementation of democracy especially when it comes to our soldiers. I’m not happy that the federal government had to take dramatic action to force us to make this step. But I’m happy that we have taken all of the different factors, put them together, and now we have successfully accomplished this particular goal and I hope it can give us momentum so that Minnesota can get back into a leadership position, not having to be told to get our act together by the congress."

Absentee ballots for Minnesota’s primary election become available on June 25.