Candidates running for Cook County offices on next year’s ballot began filing their petitions on Monday.

Three county-wide offices are up for election in 2012, including the State’s Attorney and the Circuit Court Clerk

Clerk David Orr said early filings indicate those three races might be less competitive than in previous years, but he says some potential candidates may be waiting to cut down on the time opponents have to contest signatures.

“The law clearly says you can challenge someone’s petitions,” said Orr. “In Illinois that’s become an extremely wild art form, and tens of thousands of dollars trying to knock each other off the ballot.”

Candidates have until Dec. 5 to file nomination petitions to run in the March 20 primary. They have to file any objections to those petitions in the next two weeks.