Cook County clerk wants Jackson election earlier
Election officials in Cook County say they may seek court permission to schedule a special election to fill Jesse Jackson Jr.’s congressional seat sooner rather than later.
Cook County Clerk David Orr told reporters Wednesday that he wants the election held on the same day as previously scheduled elections for municipal officials in February and April. Orr says to hold an election on other days could cost more than $1 million. But he says holding the election on an already-scheduled day would cost significantly less money.
Orr says officials must seek court permission because candidates would have less time to file petitions and other paperwork.
Orr says a similar situation arose when Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel left his congressional seat in 2008 to become President Barack Obama’s chief of staff.