Move the primary, but to when?

SPRINGFIELD - Leading lawmakers are poised to reschedule election primaries, just one week after an election some analysts say suffered because of its early date.

Republican House leader Tom Cross of Oswego said Tuesday he's "cautiously optimistic" about passing legislation he introduced that would move the primary to June.

"February provided for a long, long campaign season, and I'm not sure it gives people ample opportunity to talk about the issues - And I think a lot of people view it as an incumbent-protection date," Cross said.

Even without Cross's plan, the Capitol has no shortage of proposals to change the primary calendar, which was adjusted in 2007 to move the primaries from March to the first Tuesday in February in an effort to boost Barack Obama's presidential bid. If preliminary estimates hold, Tuesday's primary could have the lowest voter turnout for a nonpresidential year primary in decades.

Other proposed schedule changes include a plan sponsored by Sen. Elaine Nekritz, a Democrat from Northbrook, which would restore a March primary. House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie said a third proposal may come from Rep. Harry Osterman, a Democrat from Chicago.

Currie, also a Chicago Democrat, said she supports moving the primary out of February but wouldn't commit to an ideal date.

Bumping the primary too far back in the calendar could press primaries dangerously close to spring budgeting deadlines, Currie said.

"And if you really want lawmakers focused on the budget, then it may not be a good idea to have them on the campaign hustings as late as the third Tuesday in June."

Currie said a later primary date also gives the electorate more time following the winter holidays to examine the candidates.

"I think no one pays much attention if you're voting in February for an office that doesn't happen until January of the following year. It's a very long lead time."

Cross, however, said restoring the primary to the third Tuesday in March could exhaust voters with another long campaign season.

"It's better than February, but I don't think it's ideal. I think June is the closest we can get to November without getting it too close," he said. "I think people get tired and weary of campaigns, and they're costly."