(Erik Hersman/Flickr)
CHICAGO (AP) - Election officials say the start of early voting is likely to be delayed in the Chicago area because of so many candidate ballot challenges.
Early voting is slated to start statewide next week on Thursday.
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen said Friday that with rulings pending on which candidates are going to be on the ballot, voting equipment won't be programmed, tested and ready for ballots in several languages by Thursday.
Allen declined to offer further details, saying the board would issue more information on Monday.
It was unclear how the candidate questions, including a Friday ruling regarding an attorney general candidate, would affect the start of early voting statewide.
Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich says the decision is up to each election authority.