Thanks to a recent legislative change, the campaign season for those wishing to run for the school board now begins about a month earlier. Historically, the window set forth in the Election Code for filing nominating petitions with the county clerk was 113-106 days before the early April Consolidated Election. Effective July 1, 2024, however, that window has been expanded to 141-134 days before the election. With the Consolidated Election being set for April 1, 2025, that makes the filing period for nominating petitions between November 12-18, 2024.

That change brings corresponding changes to two other pertinent time periods tied to nominating petitions. Candidates can begin circulating nominating petitions 90 days before the filing period opens. That means that as of August 20, 2024, petition circulators can begin obtaining signatures. It also means that the period for objecting to nominating petitions will be earlier. This year, that period closes on November 25, 2024.

For additional guidance concerning the 2025 Consolidated Election and important dates, see the Illinois State Board of Elections’ 2025 Election Calendar.