U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg died on June 3. Because New Jersey was holding a gubernatorial election anyway on November 4, 2013, a date that is more than 70 days in the future, there will probably be a special U.S. Senate election to fill the vacant seat on that day. The normal petition deadline for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, this year for state office, is June 4, 2013. Obviously the special U.S. Senate election will have a different deadline, one that is closer to the general election. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the news about the special election. See this story.

Ian Milhiser, a Policy Analyst for the Center for American Progress, has noticed that New Jersey election law appears to contradict itself on the date of the special election. 19:3-26 says because the seat became vacant more than 70 days before the November 4, 2013 regularly-scheduled state election, the U.S. Senate election must be that day also. But 19:27-6 says that special U.S. Senate elections will only be held if the vacancy was created more than 70 days before the primary, which this year is June 4, 2013.