MONTPELIER — The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the state of Vermont and Secretary of State Jim Condos to ensure that some Vermont military personnel and others serving overseas can get their absentee ballots in on time after some of the ballots were delayed.

The department said Thursday that it’s seeking an order requiring Vermont to extend the deadline to Nov. 16 to receive the ballots from affected voters.

The department said it filed the lawsuit after the state failed to send more than 20 percent of the ballots by the deadline.

Condos, a Democrat, said a recount in a primary race delayed the printing of the November ballots, but town clerks were sent electronic copies and the most veterans should have been able to receive them on time.