Official Calendars
- 2020 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar (Source: Illinois State Board of Elections)
- Chicago Board of Election Commissioners 2020 Election Calendar - Ward Committeeperson Signature Requirements (Source: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners)
- Calendar & Signature Requirements Handout for candidates
Candidate's Guide
- 2020 Candidate's Guide - amended May 28, 2020(Source: Illinois State Board of Elections)
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 (Rolling Meadows, Skokie, Bridgeview, 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 November 3, 2020 Presidential Election: The candidate filing period for new political party candidates and independent candidates will take place Monday, July 13 - Monday, July 20.
Click here for frequently asked questions on candidate filing and objections.
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 November 3, 2020 Presidential Election
Candidate Filing Dates & Deadlines
Tuesday, March 24: First day to circulate petitions for independent candidates, new party candidates and nonpartisan candidates
Monday, June 1: Last day for appointee by established managing committee to file documents when no candidate was nominated at the Primary election
Monday, June 8: Last day to file objections to a resolution to fill a vacancy when no candidate was nominated at the Primary election
Monday, July 13 – Monday, July 20: Candidate filing period for new political parties, independent candidates and nonpartisan candidates
Monday, July 27: Last day for filing objections to nomination papers of candidates who filed during the July 13 – July 20 filing period. Objections are filed with the election authority where the nomination papers were originally filed
Thursday, September 3: Last day to file a notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate
Referenda Question Deadlines
Monday, August 3: Last day for filing petitions for referenda for the submission of questions of public policy with the appropriate election official or local election official
Monday, August 10: Last day to file objections to petitions for the submission of questions of public policy. Objections to petitions for local referenda are filed with the same office that has the original petitions
Monday, August 17: Last day for local governing boards to adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow a binding public question to appear on the ballot
Thursday, August 27: Last day for the circuit court clerk and the local election official to certify any question of public policy to the election authority
Voter Registration, Grace Period, Early Voting & Mail Voting Dates
Wednesday, August 5: First day to apply for a ballot by mail, ballots will not begin to be mailed until after September 24
Tuesday, October 6: Voter registration closes for deputy registrars and local election officials
Wednesday, October 7 – Monday, November 2: Grace period registration and voting
Sunday, October 18: Online voter registration closes
Monday, October 19 – Monday, November 2: Early voting period
Thursday, October 29: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail
Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 1: Nursing home voting
Ballot Counting & Canvassing Results Dates
Tuesday, November 17: Deadline for validating and counting provisional ballots and late-arriving mail ballots
Tuesday, November 24: Last day for County Clerk to canvass election results and proclaim result.
Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. The Cook County Clerk’s office is providing this for general information purposes only. All candidates should consult with legal counsel regarding election matters. The Cook County Clerk’s office cannot recommend an attorney or give legal advice on these matters.
For the complete Election Calendar and Candidates Guide please visit the Illinois State Board of Elections Website: www.elections.il.gov
