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Cook County Board of Commissioners — District Commissioner — Cook County, Illinois (17 commissioner districts)

Filing Fee: No filing fee (verify with Cook County Clerk) Term: 4-year term — no term limits Seats: All 17 commissioner district seats are on the November 2026 ballot. Election: November 3, 2026

✓ Who Can Run

Be at least 18 years old
Be a U.S. citizen and a registered voter in the commissioner district you want to represent
Have lived within that specific district for at least 1 year before the election
Not be convicted of a felony or other infamous crime

📋 What You Need to File

First, confirm which of the 17 commissioner districts you live in — use the district finder at cookcountyil.gov or call the Cook County Clerk at (312) 603-0900.
Calculate how many petition signatures you need: 5% of votes cast for Governor in your district in the last general election (minimum 25 signatures). Contact the Cook County Clerk for your district's specific number — it may be 1,000 or more.
Collect signatures from registered voters in your district ONLY. You may already be past the ideal start date — begin immediately.
File a Statement of Economic Interests AND your nomination petition papers with the Cook County Clerk at 69 W. Washington St., Chicago (same office for both). Must be submitted between May 18 and May 26, 2026.
Include a Statement of Candidacy (sworn and notarized) with your petition papers.
Register a political committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections if you raise or spend more than $5,000.

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📅 Key Deadlines

Partisan primary petition filing — CLOSED October 28 – November 3, 2025 (passed)
Partisan primary election — COMPLETED March 17, 2026 (party nominees are set)
⚠️ Independent candidate filing window (OPEN SOON) May 18–26, 2026
General Election day November 3, 2026

📍 Where to File

Cook County Clerk — 69 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602 | (312) 603-0900 | cookcountyclerkil.gov

🔗 Helpful Links

Cook County Clerk — Candidates & Elected Officials → Cook County Board of Commissioners — Districts → Illinois State Board of Elections — Running for Office → Illinois 2026 Candidates Guide (PDF) →

Last updated: 2026-04-12

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