Everyone in line when the doors opened this morning was first in line

Long-time FWIW readers know this already of course, but new persons visit in every new election cycle.

If six candidates for the Smith vacancy were in line when the doors opened this morning, all six will have an equal shot at the top ballot line in the primary. A lottery to determine ballot order will be held by the Illinois State Board of Elections on or before March 23.

There have been persistent rumors that Cook County judicial candidate filings will be down this year, perhaps dramatically so, because of the difficulties of getting signatures during a Covid winter. But we will have the facts soon enough.

As this is written, the ISBE is still posting filings from persons in line when the doors opened, 232 at last check (moments ago). When the blizzard of paper subsides in Springfield, we'll be able to look here at who filed and for what vacancy. I've already seen at least some unfamiliar names (unfamiliar to me, anyway).

Of course, preparing and filing petitions, as Herculean a task as it may have seemed for the persons doing the work, is merely the first step toward securing a spot on the June 28 primary ballot. For some, it will be the only step required.

But nearly all the petitions filed this morning will be scrutinized carefully by or on behalf of persons interested in weeding out their competitors. Objections will be filed against some on or before the March 21 deadline. And then those candidates will have to survive those petition challenges in order to make it to the ballot. Some will not.

So there is relief this morning for those who made it to Springfield in time. But, for some, it will be only a temporary respite.