Chicago City Wire

Some serious candidates camped outside the Illinois State Board of Elections office in Springfield for almost a week waiting for the doors to open Tuesday morning.

“This is the first official event,” Steve Sandvoss, executive director of the elections board, told the Chicago City Wire regarding the first day of candidate petition filing for the March 20, 2018, primary. “Being here the first day before 8 a.m. makes you eligible for the filing lottery.”

It's first come, first served, according to the director, who said candidates waiting in front of the building since the evening of Nov. 22 have high hopes.

“Everybody wants to be first on the ballot, so we have to break the tie somehow and we do that with a lottery,” Sandvoss said of the filing period that ends at 5 p.m. Dec. 4.

While candidates gathered outside, elections board staff waited inside anxiously, Sandvoss said.

“There is a sense of anxiety leading up to the first day,” Sandvoss said. “Everybody here wants it to go perfect with no issues or interference. There is an anticipation of the doors opening and the first candidates walking in.”

While waiting to file, Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Skokie), who is running for governor, greeted citizens. Tom Elliott, campaign communications director, said the senator and running mate Rep. Litesa Wallace (D-Rockford) were glad to be present to submit their petitions on such an “exciting” day.

“This is the first step to qualifying for the ballots by state statute,” Elliott said. “Then the State Board of Elections will officially certify the ballots after that.” He said Biss and his running mate had garnered “well over” the 10,000 signatures needed to be placed on the poll.

“We are very confident we will make it on the ballot,” Elliott said of the petitions that began circulating statewide Sept. 5. “I think the credit largely goes to volunteers who have been working around the state in rain, sunshine and cold weather to get us on the ballot.”

2018 will be a pivotal year for Illinois politics, Sandvoss said. 

“I know the race for governor is going to be pretty intense,” Sandvoss said. “There is talk about how it may be the most expensive gubernatorial race in the country.”

With the attorney general post also up for grabs, anything is possible, he added.

“That seat will open the doors for several candidates (to)  throw their hats in the proverbial ring,” Sandvoss said, adding the control of the Illinois Legislature is also at stake. “The last few years have been very acrimonious between the parties and that is going to come to a head in the next year, so that adds to the excitement.”