Gov Pat Quinn announced Monday a date for the special election to fill the seat vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr.

But it’s costly, confusing and discourages voter turnout.  So legislators are seizing the veto session in Springfield to do something about it.

Cook County Clerk David Orr is the man in charge of making sure a special election to replace disgraced congressman Jackson Jr happens quickly and cost effectively. Governor Pat Quinn set a date of March 19, required by law. It falls within the 115 day period from the time of resignation that he is bound to as governor but Quinn, Orr and other state legislators all agree April 9th makes more sense.

A sponsored bill will be introduced on the house floor sometime this week.  If all parties agree to change the current law, February 26th will stand as the primary date, March 19th will go away for the special election and April 9th will take its place to coincide with other scheduled spring elections.

Debbie Halvorsen who lost to Jackson Jr in the March primary and Alderman Anthony Beale who officially filed his statement of candidacy today, have expressed interested in filling Jackson’s seat.