Counties sue over special election

Election authorities in Kane, DuPage and six other jurisdictions in the 14th Congressional District are suing Gov. Rod Blagojevich, saying he didn't give them enough time to prepare for the special primary and special general elections he scheduled.

The 15-page complaint, to be filed in U.S. District Court today, asks the court to approve new deadlines for various tasks that must be completed in relation to the Feb. 5 special primary and March 8 special general election to replace retired U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, who resigned Nov. 26.

The existing deadlines do not give the election officials enough time -- as outlined in state election code -- to accept applications for absentee ballots and conduct a final canvass, among other duties, the complaint says.

"What we're trying to do is abbreviate all the necessary dates so it's possible to run these elections so close together," said Robert Saar, executive director of the DuPage County Election Commission. "It would be impossible without altering the schedule."

Illinois law allows officials to shorten time periods and modify other procedures required by the state election code to accommodate special elections.

The suit was filed on behalf of election officials in DuPage, Kane, Bureau, DeKalb, Kendall, Lee and Henry counties and the city of Aurora, which operates its own election commission.

In addition to Blagojevich, the suit names the Illinois State Board of Elections and the candidates vying to replace Hastert because they have a stake in the election.

Saar said he and other elections officials have discussed with officials at the state board and the governor's office the difficulty of adhering to the existing deadline schedule.

"This isn't by any means some sort of hostile action," Saar said of the suit. "This is administrative and legal issues that needed to be addressed. We think it's better to address them up front than to have somebody challenge it later."