Alderperson — City of Evanston — City of Evanston, Cook County
Evanston is a home rule municipality (population ~74,500). It follows state statute petition procedures but has its own ward boundaries, clerk processes, and local campaign finance rules.
Evanston has 9 wards, each electing 1 Alderperson to a 4-year term. The Mayor is elected citywide. All 9 ward seats and the Mayor appear on the ballot on a rotating/staggered schedule — not all wards are up every cycle. Confirm which wards are on the 2027 ballot by contacting the City Clerk.
Who Can Run
Be at least 18 years old
Be a U.S. citizen and a registered voter in the ward you want to represent
Have resided within the ward for at least 1 year before the election (not before filing)
Not hold another public office that would conflict (confirm with City Clerk)
What You Need to File
Confirm your ward — use the ward map at evanstonwi.gov or call the City Clerk at (847) 448-4311.
Confirm your ward is on the 2027 ballot — not all 9 wards are up every cycle. The Clerk will confirm which seats are contested.
Download the official candidate packet from the Evanston City Clerk's office.
Collect petition signatures from registered voters in your ward. The standard formula is 5% of votes cast in the last ward election — your clerk will give the exact number. Plan to collect at least 1.5x the minimum as a buffer.
Starting approximately August 2026, circulate your petition sheets.
File your notarized Statement of Candidacy and petition papers with the Evanston City Clerk during the filing window (estimated November 2026 — confirm exact dates).
File a Statement of Economic Interests.
Register a political committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections if you raise or spend more than $5,000.
Key Deadlines
Petition circulation begins (estimated)
~August 2026
Filing window (estimated)
~November 2026
Election day
April 6, 2027
Where to File
Evanston City Clerk's Office — 2100 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201 | (847) 448-4311 | cityofevanston.org