By Jennifer Wessner Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — The governor’s race ended with a winner last Friday, but six days after Election Day several local, state, and congressional races are still up for grabs.
Menzel said a few counties who missed the September deadline for sending out military ballots will be given extra time to report their results.
Willard Helander, the county clerk in Lake County, said the tight races in her area are creating more work for her, but she said she is used to the post-election craziness.
Menzel said the official count from the State Board of Elections will come on Dec. 3.
For most candidates, who won’t be sworn in until January, the vote certification process won’t affect their term in office.
But Congressman Mark Kirk, R-IL, will have to wait until the vote is certified to go to Washington to serve out the last few weeks of President Barack Obama’s term in the U.S. Senate. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to the seat following Obama’s presidential win, but the courts ruled that voters should pick Obama’s successor in a special election included on last week’s ballot.
Kirk was also elected to his own six-year term that will start in January. Kirk supporters are anxious to get Kirk seated in the U.S. Senate as quickly as possible, as his vote is important to any major piece of legislation Congress tries to pass in a lame-duck session.
Menzel said the date to certify the results for the special election have been moved up to make sure the transition is seamless.
Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.