HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania's top elections official is visiting U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait this week to see how they're voting by absentee ballot.

Secretary of State Pedro Cortes says he and his counterparts from four other states were invited to the region by the federal government. Mr. Cortes is also president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Mr. Cortes says the main challenge for military voters is completing their ballots on time. Pennsylvania requires military absentee ballots to be postmarked by Nov. 3, the day before the election. County election boards must receive them by Nov. 11.

Mr. Cortes says he's being allowed to make the trip -- despite a recent ban on out-of-state-travel by state employees -- because the Department of Defense is paying for it.

First Published: October 1, 2008, 2:15 p.m.