Democrats Get Top Billing On November Ballot

Here is one competition in which Pres. Barack Obama has beat out probable Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Democrats were selected for the top ballot position in the Nov. 6, presidential election in a drawing conducted today by Cook County Clerk David Orr and Director of Elections Jan Kralovec.

At 10 a.m. May 2, Orr displayed slips of paper with the parties' names written on them, one for Democrats and the other for Republicans.

Orr and Kralovec each folded one slip of paper and inserted it into its own yellow pill bottle. The bottles were placed into a large fish bowl. Kralovec held the bowl and Orr stirred the bottles. Orr then pulled out a bottle to determine the first position, and unfolded the card reading "Democratic Party." For verification, the other bottle was opened to display the card reading "Republican Party."

Democratic candidates will have the top spot in both Chicago and the Cook County suburbs for all federal, state and county races, Orr said n a prepared statement. Republican candidates will be second on the ballot. A lottery is conducted prior to each general election to determine the order in which the major political parties will appear on the ballot.

For a video of the ballot lottery, visit cookcountyclerk.com.