Illinois Candidates Start Petition Drives for Earliest-Ever Primary

[TechBear_Seattle]

Illinois Candidates Start Petition Drives for Earliest-Ever Primary

It is beyond dispute that the two-year congressional election cycles are beginning earlier and earlier. If any more evidence were needed, fancy this: Candidates for Congress in Illinois can begin circulating nomination papers now — to formally prepare for November 2008 elections that are still 15 months away.

Under a new Illinois law, the state will hold the earliest congressional primary in the nation’s history next Feb. 5. The U.S. Senate and House contests will coincide with the presidential primary — Illinois’ contribution to the “front-loading” of the nominating process.

And under this accelerated schedule, Tuesday marked the first day that congressional candidates could begin collecting petition signatures to qualify for the primary. These petitions must be filed during a period that runs from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5.

The article continues at http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20070809/pl_cq_politics/illinoiscandidatesstartpetitiondrivesforearliesteverprimary

[madrchsod]

1. the stupidity of the democratic party in illinois

never fails to amaze me...the governor is sitting on a rate relief bill,the democratic controlled house and senate can`t pass a budget,and other assorted stupidity. now they want to move up the primary thus screwing over those in their own party members who want to run against the republicans in 2008...