Ballots without Emanuel's name under lock and key

CHICAGO — Locked away at a suburban Chicago printing company are what could become hot souvenirs in the city's political history.

Nearly 300,000 ballots for the Feb. 22 election were printed last week without White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's name listed as a mayoral contender.

Officials with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners started printing the ballots after an Illinois appellate court ruled Emanuel couldn't be on the ballot because he didn't live in Chicago for a year before the election.

But hours after printing had started, the Illinois Supreme Court told election officials they couldn't print ballots without Emanuel's name.

The state's high court later reversed the appellate court's decision.

The ballots are under lock and key.

Chicago election officials say they aren't sure what do with them next.