Running For Office

All candidates for public office in Illinois, whether they are established party candidates, candidates of new parties or Independents, must carefully follow the law when filing their nominating papers.

Meeting these legal requirements, which are found in Chapter 10 of the Illinois Compiled Statues (Election Code), is a requirement of all candidates.  However, this information is merely a guide and should not be used in lieu of competent legal counsel.

Precinct Committeeman 

• Minimum Age: 18 years.
• Residency Requirements: United States citizen.  A registered voter of the precinct.
• Signature Requirements: A minimum of 10 primary electors of his/her party.
• Statement of Candidacy: Filed with nomination papers.
• Loyalty Oath (Optional): Filed with nomination papers.
• Filing Dates (Established Party): Monday, November 25, 2013 to Monday, December 2, 2013.
• Where to File: Office of the county clerk.
• Statement of Economic Interests: Not required for party office.

County Officers

Established Political Party. The number of countywide executive offices varies from county to county. For example, some counties do not elect the office of assessor. All counties do, however, elect such officers as county clerk, treasurer, sheriff, state’s attorney, county board members, recorder and circuit clerk.  Approximately half of a county’s officers are elected every two years.

The following County Offices are to be nominated:

• County Clerk, Treasurer
• Sheriff, Assessor*
• County Board Members**
• Board of Review Members
• Regional Superintendent of Schools

*Note: A person is not eligible to be elected or appointed to the office of sheriff unless that person is a U.S. citizen, has been a resident of the county for at least one (1) year and is not a convicted felon. [55 ILCS 5/3‑6001.5]

• Minimum Age: 18 years.
• Residency Requirements:  United States citizen. Resident of the county for 30 days. Registered voter in the county or county board district. In counties with a population of 3,000,000 or less, no person is eligible to hold the office of county board member unless that person is a legal voter and has been a resident of the county for at least one (1) year next preceding the election. [55 ILCS 5/2-3015]
• Signature Requirements: This information can be obtained from the St. Clair County Clerk’s Office.
• Statement of Candidacy: Filed with nomination papers.
• Loyalty Oath (Optional): Filed with nomination papers.
• Statement of Economic Interests: Filed with the County Clerk.  Receipt must be filed with petitions or by the end of the filing period for those counties having election commissions.
• Filing Dates (Established Party): Monday, November 25, 2013 to Monday, December 2, 2013.
• Where to File: Office of the County Clerk
• Campaign Disclosure: Original reports must be filed with the State Board of Elections, 2329 S. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield, IL 62704 or P.O. Box 4187, Springfield, IL 62708 or 100 West Randolph Street, Suite 14-100, Chicago, IL 60601.

   
State and Federal Office

Information regarding federal and/or state offices should be directed to the following:

Illinois State Board of Elections
2329 S. MacArthur Blvd.
Springfield, IL  62704
(217) 782-4141
www.elections.il.gov