By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-995437.mp3
Springfield, MA – A change in the date for the Massachusetts 2012 primary has put it in direct conflict with the Democratic National Convention. Governor Deval Patrick says the date should be changed again. But, the state's top election official seems reluctant. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law this month a bill to change the date of the state's primary from Tuesday September 18th to Thursday, Sept 6 in order to avoid a conflict with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah..but September 6th is scheduled to be the final day of the Democratic National Convention.
Now that the conflict has been noticed, Governor Patrick says the state's primary date should be change, again.
But the state's top election official, Secretary of State William Galvin, who is also a Democrat, seems reluctant to change the primary date again.
Galvin says the big event of the final night at the convention, the acceptance speech, presumably by President Barack Obama, would occur well after the polls closed in Massachusetts.
Galvin says he is open to discussing alternative dates, but he said his top priority is the general election in November, and the need to get absentee ballots mailed out 45 days in advance in order to comply with federal law.
Galvin says holding the primary in August is impossible for a variety of logistical reasons, and he's concerned that any later dates in September won't afford enough time to deal with potential recounts and other unforeseen developments.
There's been no move as yet in the Massachusetts legislature to again change the primary date, according to State Representative Michael Kane of Holyoke.
State Senator Michael Knapik of Westfield, a Republican, says legislature should not play politics with the date of the primary.
The state primary in Massachusetts is expected to finalize the Democratic nominee to challenge Republican Senator Scott Brown. There could also be primaries in the newly drawn congressional districts, as well as for seats in the state legislature, which has also undergone redistricting.