Candidates for the August primary began the process of filing at the Secretary of State’s office this morning, February 26th. Rep. Bill Deeken (R-Jefferson City) was among the House members filing for re-election, one of 300 candidates who are expected to file for office today.
Although filing on the first day is still important, the lottery system now used makes being first in line almost moot. Each candidate draws a number by random; the smaller the number, the higher the placement on the ballot. Before the lottery system, candidates would set up camp for days outside of the Secretary of State’s office, a scene similar to what might be seen at Best Buy at 4am on black Friday.
"A lot of people like to get it done the first day; they want to be the first one filed," Rep. Deeken said, "but now that they’ve got the lottery system, someone can come later and file against you, get a better number and their name will be on top."
Deeken filed his candidacy for the 114th District of Missouri. As he worked his way through the filing system, Deeken was welcomed with smiles from those in the Secretary of State office that he had worked with in his previous position as County Clerk, a position that he held for 12 years. Deeken had to offer forms of ID and verify personal information in order to file, just as if he was at the counter in the DMV. To decide his name’s position on the ballot, Deeken had to pull a number out of jar. His number was 225.
