A sure sign campaign season is underway in Illinois comes as election officials prepare to receive nomination petitions.
Monday is the first day the papers can be filed for candidates standing in the March 18 primary. And who gets theirs in first also helps determine who gets their name listed in coveted positions high up on the ballot.
Candidates running for governor and other statewide offices submit their papers to the State Board of Elections in Springfield. Candidates for municipal office file theirs with county clerks.
As has been tradition, candidates in Cook County lined up outside the county administration building hours before the doors were unlocked.
December 2 is the last day that candidates can file petitions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
