Why are they waiting until January?
This is mere informed speculation, as when I recently asked a voting member of the Brotherhood, the specific reason was not given, but the implication was that January was the first convenient time after the karasoonk for the Brotherhood to convene. Remember, the membership is quite literally scattered in every corner of the globe, and a some of them are bishops with a number of scheduling needs between their own dioceses and elsewhere.
Honestly, there isn't that much of a difference between the election happening this month or in January after Christmas is over. It's really a non-story.