Cook County candidate filing opens Nov. 25

Cook County candidates running in the March 18, 2014 primary election can begin filing their nomination petitions at the Cook County Clerk’s office on Monday, Nov. 25.

Only candidates running for the following offices will submit their paperwork to the clerk’s office: County Board President; County Clerk; County Treasurer; County Sheriff; County Assessor; County Commissioners; County Board of Review (District 3); Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (three seats); and Township Committeemen. The candidates for Township Committeemen are elected at the primary; everyone else is nominated by their respective parties.

All other candidates will file with the State Board of Elections in Springfield.

Historically, candidates have jockeyed for the first spots by lining up outside the Cook County Administration Building, 69 W. Washington St., long before the building opens at 6 a.m. — a full three hours before filing begins at 9 a.m. Early birds must line up outside the main Washington Street entrance in order to secure their place in line. At 6 a.m., clerk’s office employees will escort the line to the Clerk’s Pedway room in the lower level of the building. Candidates will receive numbers to mark their place in line.

All candidates who are in line by 9 a.m. will have their papers stamped with that time. If there are multiple candidates seeking the same office who file simultaneously, a lottery will be conducted to determine the order in which their names will appear on the ballot.

Candidates must file their nomination papers during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) between Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. The Clerk’s office will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 28 and will not accept petition filings on Friday, Nov. 29.