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Illinois May Need Special Election
A federal court will rule later this month whether Illinois must hold a special election for the U.S. Senate.

The case dates from last year, when plaintiffs in Judge vs. Quinn claimed voters were entitled to elect a senator, after Roland Burris was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Barack Obama was elected president.

The court sided with the plaintiffs, with action stayed until July 21 to hear a final appeal and to determine exactly what the state must do. Gov. Pat Quinn says the state will do what the court directs.

If there is a special election, it would presumably be Nov. 2, the same day as the regular election. At issue is whether there would have to be primaries, or if the already nominated candidates could just run in the special election as well, and if elected, take office right after the election, gaining seniority over other senators elected in November who must wait until Jan. 3, 2011 for their terms to begin.

The state has argued against the special election on account of cost vs. benefit (a senator elected in a special election Nov. 2, if not the same person who's elected in the general election, would serve two months of almost no consequence), and both candidates for the Senate are against the idea, fearing voters confusion on Election Day.

(Illinois Radio Network)
07 11 10 by Newsroom
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