For anyone who predicted that controversy over the constitutional convention referendum would end with a stinging defeat at the polls yesterday ... well, that was wishful thinking.

Citing problems at polling places, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is preparing to mount another legal challenge regarding the controversial ballot language. Along with the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), he is drafting an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court based on reports that election authorities flouted a court order requiring them to inform voters that the Con-Con ballot language was flawed.

Quinn is also pushing for an investigation into how the biased language ended up on the ballot in the first place. Theoretically, this two-pronged effort could eventually lead to a special Con-Con election.  That seems like a long shot, however, considering that the referendum went down by such a large margin (68-32 percent).

Regardless, Quinn says the challenge is about ensuring fair future elections. "We don't want this kind of precedence," Quinn said. "Win or lose an election or a referendum. You don't want it to be one where the public suspects it was rigged."

UPDATE: Illinois Issues' Bethany Jaeger has more on this situation.