Big Money: The $45M-$50M IL Special Election

A special election to fill Pres.-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat could cost the state of Illinois between $45 million and $50 million, a state Board of Elections official told On Call this afternooon.

Ken Menzel, an elections specialist with the board, called the figure a "gross guestimate" based on the cost per precinct of running a special election earlier this year to fill the 14th District seat vacated by retiring Rep. J. Dennis Hastert.

"We don't do specials for statewide offices," Menzel said. "This is one of the reasons we appoint to them. It's expensive to do these things."

Menzel said the counties will largely be tasked with covering the costs.

"If it isn't there, I don't know where it would come from," he said.

After consulting with State Board of Elections Executive Dir. Dan White, Menzel said he based his Senate contest estimate on the cost per precinct -- $10,000 -- to conduct the race to replace Hastert. He said that at approximately half that rate per precinct, with 11,600 precincts statewide, it could run as much as $50 million to hold a special Senate election.

In the wake of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's arrest today on sweeping corruption charges, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin proposed that the state General Assembly pass a law as soon as possible sanctioning a special election to fill Pres.-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. And Illinois Senate President Emil Jones and House Speaker Michael J. Madison responded by suggesting lawmakers reconvene as soon as possible -- as early as Monday perhaps -- to discuss the matter.

State statutes do not outline a process for a special U.S. Senate contest. That responsibility falls exclusively to the governor. If Blagojevich were impeached, however, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn would assume the state's highest office -- and be tasked with appointing Obama's successor.

Likely the less expensive route.

(JENNIFER SKALKA)