Filing for the June primary is over

Posted on March 15, 2022
That lottery, with real Illinois Lottery ping pong balls, is March 23. (Twitter/Illinois SBE)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Candidates who believe being last on the list on the ballot give them an edge showed up for the final hour of filing Monday at the Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield.

Despite a lack of evidence that ballot position matters, it’s custom for candidates to line up early on the first day, or late on the last day, for a chance to be first or last.

“The second Monday of filing, candidates who file are eligible for a lottery to be placed last on the ballot in their race,” said Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections. “Those candidates who can’t be first sometimes wait until between four and five p-m to file their petitions so they have a shot at appearing last.”

That lottery, with real Illinois Lottery ping pong balls, is March 23.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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