$250K savings by combining with April 7 Consolidated Election
Cook County, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Dates have been set for the5th Congressional District special election: a March 3 primary and a general election on April 7.
Cook County Clerk David Orr and Chicago Board of Elections Executive Director Lance Gough recommended the dates to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who issued the Writ of Election.
“Holding the general election for the 5th Congressional District on April 7 — the same date as the Consolidated Election — will result in a $250,000 savings for Cook County taxpayers,” Orr said.
The seat was vacated by Rahm Emanuel, now President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff. The 5th Congressional District is comprised of 92 precincts in suburban Cook County — in Leyden and Proviso townships –and 470 precincts in the City of Chicago.
The special election dates will result in a compressed election schedule, pending final approval from a Cook County judge later this week. Namely,candidates will have less time to gather petition signatures. The Illinois State Board of Elections will determine whether candidates will need fewer signatures due to the condensed calendar.
The standard one-week filing and objection periods will remain unchanged. All petitions and objections are filed with the State Board of Elections.
