The Supreme Court says it won't stop a special election for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat that leaves out current Illinois Sen. Roland Burris.

Burris earlier this month asked the high court to block plans for a special Senate election that would exclude him.

The election will decide who serves out the final two months of the term that began when Obama entered the Senate in 2005.

Burris argued that the federal courts overstepped their authority by declaring that the candidates would be the same people running for the new Senate term. It meant that Burris, who's not seeking another term, couldn't run. He'd leave office soon after November 2nd instead of serving until January.