Chicago board votes to allow Emanuel to remain on ballot

A Chicago election commission voted Thursday to dismiss objections to former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's eligibility to run for mayor of Chicago.

A three-member commission overruled challenges brought by opponents of Emanuel, who had argued the former Chicago-area congressman was ineligible to run for mayor because he had not legally resided in Chicago for a year.

The ruling clears the way for Emanuel to push forward with his bid to succeed longtime Mayor Richard M. Daley, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

The board ruled unanimously that challengers had not proven Emanuel had abandoned his Chicago residency when he moved to Washington, D.C., to take a job as chief of staff to President Obama.

Polls show Emanuel in charge of the Democratic primary field for mayor, which is seen as a de-facto general election.