Special election for Hastert seat to be held on a Saturday

[tekisui]

link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-hastertdate_04dec04,1,6523910.story

The early retirement of ex-House Speaker Dennis Hastert has led to a rarity in Illinois: a Saturday election.

The former speaker's decision to step down last week means a special election has to be held to find someone to fill out his term representing the far west suburban 14th Congressional District.

On Monday, Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich chose Feb. 5 for the special primary—the same date when Illinois' regular primary election will be held to pick Hastert's permanent successor. But the governor selected March 8 for the special general election. That's a Saturday. Elections in Illinois typically are held on Tuesdays.

The idea is that a Saturday election will increase turnout, Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said.

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[lonestarnot]

1. reportedly costing a bundle too. tee hee.

[murielm99]

4. And just why is that funny?

Fat-ass Hastert made a bundle and was almost certainly involved in some dirty dealings as speaker of the house.

Now, as a parting shot, he is costing Illinois money. His repuke predecessors nearly bankrupted this state. We just went through a series of trials to put former governor Ryan and some of his repuke cronies behind bars. That may have been federal money, but it was still costly. Blagojevich inherited a nice deficit that has made governing this state that much harder.

I don't think any of this is funny at all.

[tritsofme]

2. Increase turnout?

Maybe increase confusion, it'll probably drive turnout below regular township or school board elections.

[aquart]

3. Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath.

I'm assuming his district is 100 percent Christian?

[tritsofme]

5. I hadn't thought of that

IIRC his district barely touches some North-shore communities which are heavily Jewish.

But its mostly a WASPy conservative district that encompasses many traditional "GOP collar counties" around Chicago but twists and turns its way damn close to Iowa.

[Nailzberg]

6. The 14 doesn't reach that far east.

It goes about as far as Carpentersville. Schakowsky's district reaches Skokie, but the bulk of the North Shore is repped by Kirk.