Run for Local Office

Your guide to getting on the ballot

You're signed out

Your progress has been saved.

Thanks for using LocalCandidate.org. Good luck on your journey to the ballot — every great campaign starts with this step.

Once you're on the ballot, BallotBase has the tools to help you run a winning campaign.

Explore BallotBase →

Chicago City Council Alderperson —

Filing Fee: No filing fee Term: 4-year terms — no term limits Seats: 50 wards, 1 alderperson per ward — all 50 seats on the 2027 ballot Election: February 23, 2027 (runoff April 6, 2027 if needed)

⚠️ This page covers Chicago aldermanic races only. If you live outside Chicago city limits in suburban Cook County, see the Suburban Cook City Council page instead.

⚠️ Chicago aldermanic elections run on a DIFFERENT calendar than the rest of Illinois. The election is in February (odd years), not April. The April consolidated election is a separate system. Chicago races are administered by the Chicago Board of Elections — not the Cook County Clerk.

🏛️ Aldermanic races are technically nonpartisan — there are no party labels on the ballot. In practice, the Democratic Party organization plays a major role in many wards, especially on the south and west sides. On the north side and lakefront wards, independent candidates regularly win. Understand your ward's political dynamics before filing.

Not all wards are equally competitive for first-time candidates. North side and lakefront wards (1st, 2nd, 43rd, 44th, 47th, 48th, 49th) have a strong history of independent candidates winning without party machinery. South and west side wards are typically more organized around the Democratic ward committeeman structure. Research your specific ward's recent election history before committing to a race.

✓ Who Can Run

Be at least 18 years old
Be a U.S. citizen
Be a registered voter in the ward you want to represent
Have resided in the ward for at least one year before taking office (not before filing)

📋 What You Need to File

Find your ward — use the City of Chicago's ward map at chicago.gov or the Chicago Board of Elections site (chicagoelections.gov).
Download the candidate packet from the Chicago Board of Elections (chicagoelections.gov) — available approximately 90 days before the petition filing deadline.
Collect 473 signatures from registered voters in your ward. This is a firm number based on 1% of votes cast in the last aldermanic election in your ward. Collect at least 700–800 as a safety buffer — signatures will be challenged.
File your petition papers with the Chicago Board of Elections during the filing window (estimated mid-to-late November 2026 for the February 2027 election).
File a Statement of Economic Interests with the City of Chicago Board of Ethics.
Register a political committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections if you raise or spend more than $5,000. Most competitive aldermanic campaigns spend significantly more.

Tip: Check off items as you complete them. Your progress is saved in your browser — sign up or log in to access it from any device.

📅 Key Deadlines

Petition circulation begins (estimated) ~August 2026
Filing window (estimated) ~November 2026
Chicago municipal election (first round) February 23, 2027
Runoff election (if no candidate exceeds 50%) April 6, 2027

📍 Where to File

Chicago Board of Elections — 69 W. Washington St., Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60602 | (312) 269-7900 | chicagoelections.gov

🔗 Helpful Links

Chicago Board of Elections — Candidates → Chicago Board of Elections — Getting on the Ballot → Find Your Ward — City of Chicago → City of Chicago Candidate Guide (Ethics) → Illinois State Board of Elections — Campaign Finance →

Last updated: 2026-04-18

Report an Issue

If you work in election administration or have knowledge of ballot access requirements, your feedback helps us maintain accurate information for candidates.