SPRINGFIELD - When Illinois voters head to the polls today, it will mark the earliest ever primary election in state history.

And, by most accounts, moving the primary election date to the first Tuesday in February will likely serve its intended purposes: To help U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's presidential run and to give Illinois more of a voice in the presidential sweepstakes.

But when the polls open at 6 a.m. today, not everyone will be happy the date was changed.

State Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Vernon, was among a handful of lawmakers who voted last year against switching the date, saying it would merely create an even longer campaign season.

"In my district, I've knocked on a jillion doors. People are always telling me that the campaign season never seems to end," Jones said.

Along with the high profile presidential races, Illinois' 7.1 million registered voters will choose delegates for each party's national nominating convention. Scores of candidates also are on the ballot for Congress, the Illinois General Assembly and a variety of county-level seats.

When House Speaker Michael Madigan proposed moving the primary last year, he offered two reasons: Make Illinois a player in the early going and give a boost to Obama's then-fledgling bid for president.

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said he believes those goals will be met.

"It's had its desired effect," said Brown.

It's also meant changes for candidates.

In Illinois' 18th Congressional District, Republican candidate John Morris of Peoria had to adjust some of his plans because of the heavy snowfall across the region last week.

Rather than going door-to-door to campaign, his volunteers were spending a lot more time on the telephone trying to convince voters to back him, rather than his GOP primary foes, Aaron Schock and Jim McConoughey.

As for the future, Illinois is now locked in as an early primary state.

But, Brown says the entire primary system should be reviewed before the next presidential race in 2012.

"Party leaders on a national level should come together and figure out what works best," Brown said.

Jones agrees that the entire national election process needs to be reviewed. He suggests there may even be a need for a national primary election, rather than the current state-by-state set-up.

Despite his reservations about the date change, Jones said he likes the idea that Illinois voters will play a role in the national races this year.

"We do have somewhat of a voice, which we didn't before," Jones said.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.