Appeals court rejects state bid to forgo special election for interim replacement
Illinois voters could end up voting twice for a U.S. senator on the Nov. 2 general election ballot, deciding on an interim replacement who would serve only a few weeks in office while also voting on a new senator to fill a six-year term that begins in January.
The dual-senator vote scenario became more likely Thursday after the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal from state officials who questioned the expense and need for a special election to fill for eight weeks the seat now held by U.S. Sen. Roland Burris.
Burris was appointed to President Barack Obama's former Senate seat by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich just weeks after Blagojevich's Dec. 9, 2008, arrest on federal corruption charges, including allegations he tried to sell the Senate vacancy for personal and political profit.
Full article.... http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-eight-week-senate-special-elec20100722,0,5035919.story
