2025 Info for Candidates

Official Calendars

2025 Illinois State Board of Elections Guides

Statement of Economic Interests

Any Statement of Economic Interests form provided by and filed with the Cook County Clerk's office discloses the information required by law and will meet the statutory filing requirement for candidates.

Candidates can print out the Statement of Economic Interests form below and deliver it to the Clerk's downtown office (69 W. Washington, Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60602) or any of the Clerk's suburban courthouse office locations (Skokie, Maywood and Markham).

Candidate Contact Form

Please complete the Candidate Contact Form and file with your nomination papers or email the form to [email protected]. Do NOT bind with the nomination papers.

Candidate Filing

For the Tuesday, February 25, 2025 Consolidated Primary Election the candidate filing period for established party candidates and nonpartisan municipalities is Monday, October 21, 2024 – Monday, October 28, 2024.

For the Tuesday, April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election the candidate filing period for new political parties, nonpartisan and independent candidates is Tuesday, November 12 – Monday, November 18.

Withdrawal of Candidacy

To withdraw your candidacy, please complete the Withdrawal of Candidacy form, have it notarized, and file it with the office where you submitted your original nominating petitions. If you filed your petitions with the Cook County Clerk's office, you should deliver or mail your form to the Clerk's downtown office: 69 W. Washington, Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60602. Emails and faxes are not accepted.
 

Important Dates for the February 25, 2025 Consolidated Primary Election

Candidate Filing Dates & Deadlines

Monday, October 21 – Monday, October 28: Petition filing period for established political party candidates & nonpartisan candidates (municipalities) 

Monday, November 4: Last day for filing objections to nomination papers of candidates who filed during the October 21 – October 28 filing period 

Wednesday, November 6: Last day to conduct ballot placement lottery

Thursday, December 19: Last day to file a Withdrawal of Candidacy with the local election official or authority  

Thursday, December 26: Last day to file a notarized Declaration of Intent to be a Write–in Candidate  

 

Referenda Question Deadlines

Monday, November 25: Last day for filing petitions for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy with the local election official

Monday, December 9: Last day for local governing boards to adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow a binding public question to appear on the ballot

 

Certification of Ballot Deadline

Thursday, December 19: Last day for the local election official to certify candidates, offices and any referenda questions to the election authority 

 

Voter Registration, Early Voting & Mail Voting

Friday, January 10: Military & overseas ballots available 

Thursday, January 16: First day to mail ballots (if available)

Tuesday, January 28: Voter registration closes for deputy registrars and local election officials

Wednesday, January 29 – Monday, February 24: Grace period registration & voting period 

Sunday, February 9: Online voter registration closes 

Monday, February 10 – Monday, February 24: Early Voting period 

Thursday, February 20: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail

Friday, February 21: Nursing home voting 

 

Ballot Counting & Canvassing Results Dates

Tuesday, March 11: Deadline for validating and counting provisional ballots and late-arriving mail ballots

Tuesday, March 18: Last day for County Clerk to canvass election results and proclaim results

 


Important Dates for the April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election

Candidate Filing Dates & Deadlines

Tuesday, August 20: First day to circulate petitions for independent, new political parties and nonpartisan offices  

Tuesday, November 12 - Monday, November 18: Petition filing period for nomination petitions of new political parties, nonpartisan and independent candidates 

Monday, November 25: Last day to file objections to nomination petitions of new political party, nonpartisan and independent candidates as well as certificates of nomination for established party caucus candidates who filed during the November 12 – 18 filing period
*Last day to withdraw (incompatible offices)

Wednesday, November 27: Last day to conduct ballot placement lottery

Monday, December 9 – Monday, December 16: Caucus Certificate of Nomination filling 

Thursday, January 23: Last day to file a Withdrawal of Candidacy with the local election official or authority

Thursday, January 30: Last day to file a notarized declaration of intent to be a write–in candidate 

 

Referenda Question Deadlines

Monday, December 30: Last day for filing petitions for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy with the local election official

Monday, January 13: Last day for local governing boards to adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow a binding public question to appear on the ballot

 

Certification of Ballot Deadline

Thursday, January 23: Last day for the local election official to certify candidates, offices and any referenda questions to the election authority 

 

Voter Registration, Early Voting & Mail Voting

Friday, February 14: Military & overseas ballots available 

Thursday, February 20: First day to mail ballots (if available)

Tuesday, March 4: Voter registration closes for deputy registrars and local election officials

Wednesday, March 5 – Monday, March 31: Grace period registration & voting period 

Sunday, March 16: Online voter registration closes 

Monday, March 17 – Monday, March 31: Early voting period 

Thursday, March 27: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail

 

Ballot Counting & Canvassing Results Dates

Tuesday, April 15: Deadline for validating and counting provisional ballots and late-arriving mail ballots

Tuesday, April 22: Last day for County Clerk to canvass election results and proclaim results