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Filings begin for March primary, except for congressional candidates
Updated: January 3, 2012 8:11AM
Candidate filing for the March primary opened Monday and is supposed to end this coming Monday for all candidates.
However, those seeking nomination for a congressional seat were given more time while a lawsuit challenging Illinois’ new redistricting map winds its way through court.
A federal court in Chicago last week postponed candidate filing for congressional races while it decides a Republican lawsuit challenging the remap.
The three-judge panel set congressional candidate filing from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27.
The filing date was changed as judges deliberate a lawsuit that seeks to throw out the state’s new congressional districts map, which was drawn by Democrats. Republicans contend it will decimate their gains in Congress and dilute Latino voting power.
If the map is still in dispute after Dec. 21, a new filing schedule will be set.
The Illinois State Board if Elections announced that if congressional candidate attempts to file nominating petitions during the originally scheduled filing period this week, such petitions will not be accepted.
