Candidate filing begins Tues.

On Tuesday candidates for U.S. Congress, Auditor, and state House and Senate seats will begin to file for positions with the Missouri Secretary of State's office in Jefferson City.

Candidates will file for the state primary election on Aug. 3, 2010 beginning Feb. 23 through Mar. 30. While there's a month-long window to file required paperwork, traditionally the first day of the filing period sees the most activity as candidates jockey for a chance to be listed first on the ballot in their party's primary. If more than one candidate files on the first day, the top ballot position is assigned by random lottery.

While the political science literature has not developed a consensus on whether being listed first has an impact on the election, conventional wisdom suggests it can make a difference, especially in races where the candidates are not well known.

For instance, it's believed that ballot position effect played into Chris Koster's victory in the 2008 attorney general primary with Margaret Donnelly, Jeff Harris, and Molly Williams.

And that is exactly the outcome many of the early filers Tuesday are hoping for if they face contested primaries.

Related Links:
Secretary of State Campaign Filing Information

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