Aug 31, 2009 3:15 pm US/Eastern
Election for Kennedy Seat To Be Held Jan. 19th
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Gov. Deval Patrick says the special election to fill the seat of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy will be held Tuesday, January 19, 2010.
The primary election will be Tuesday, December 8, 2009.
Possible contenders include Kennedy's widow Vicki, nephew and former Rep. Joseph Kennedy, Attorney General Martha Coakley and several members of the state's congressional delegation.
Patrick says Vicki Kennedy has told him she is not interested in being appointed as an interim replacement.
THE LAW
Still unresolved is whether Massachusetts will change state law to let Patrick name an interim senator.
The Joint Committee on Election Law has scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 9 on the proposed change, requested by Kennedy before his death last week.
The bill would allow the governor to appoint a temporary senator to Kennedy's seat, once the filing date has passed for anyone who wants to run.
That way, none of the candidates for the seat would have the advantage of holding it during the special election.
The bill was filed back in January by state
Rep. Robert Koczera and was scheduled to come up for debate in October.
It was moved up because of Kennedy's death.
Patrick supports the change in the law as do some Democrats in Congress who say they need the vote for President Obama's health care overhaul.
THE ELECTION
The special election will cost Massachusetts about $5 million, according to Secretary of State Bill Galvin.
Candidates will need to collect 10,000 signatures six weeks before their party's primary. Independent candidates will have until six weeks before the special election day.
Galvin said the winter weather will be a concern for turnout.
He suggests all voters visit the
state's election web site for more information
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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