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One of this year’s biggest frustrations has been that because of a provision of the D.C. Home Rule Charter, a special election to fill the Ward 5 seat once held by Harry Thomas, Jr. won’t be able to coincide with the April 3 primaries. As a consequence, the city has to shell out an additional $315,000 to run the Ward 5 election over a month later, on May 15.

Tomorrow a congressional committee will hold a markup on legislation that would change that. Sponsored by D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the bill would allow D.C. to schedule a special election 70 days after a vacancy has been declared, instead of the 114 days currently required.

In a statement today, Norton thanked Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chair of the House Oversight Committee, for moving to schedule the hearing. After Thomas resigned, Norton expressed her frustration that the measure, which had passed a House subcommittee last year, stalled after a senator put an anonymous hold on it.

The markup will take place tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.