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School Board Member — Chicago Public Schools — Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Illinois — 20 Subdistricts + Board President

Filing Fee: No filing fee Term: 4-year term for most seats. Some subdistricts will have 2-year terms in 2026 depending on whether that subdistrict had an elected or appointed member in 2024 — confirm your subdistrict's term length with the Chicago Board of Elections. Seats: 11 seats on the 2026 ballot: 10 subdistrict members (one per subdistrict across Districts 1–10, specifically the subdistrict that had an appointed board member in 2024) + 1 citywide Board President. Find your subdistrict at chicagoelections.gov. Election: November 3, 2026

✓ Who Can Run

Be at least 18 years old
Be a U.S. citizen and a registered voter in Illinois
Have lived within the City of Chicago AND within your specific subdistrict for at least 1 year before the election
Not be a child sex offender, school trustee, or school treasurer
Not be a contractor or vendor currently doing business with Chicago Public Schools

📋 What You Need to File

Collect voter signatures on nomination petition sheets — you need 500 to 1,500 valid signatures from registered voters within your subdistrict. If running for Board President (the citywide seat), you need at least 2,500 signatures from registered Chicago voters.
File a Statement of Candidacy with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners
File a Statement of Economic Interests with the Cook County Clerk (or your home county clerk). Bring the receipt when you submit your nomination papers — a missing receipt is a disqualifying defect.
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

Petition circulation open — you can collect signatures NOW Started February 24, 2026
Candidate filing window opens May 18, 2026
Candidate filing deadline May 26, 2026
Objection deadline June 2, 2026
Election Day November 3, 2026

📍 Where to File

Chicago Board of Election Commissioners — 69 W. Washington St., Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60602 | Phone: (312) 269-7900 | chicagoelections.gov

🔗 Helpful Links

Chicago Board of Elections — Candidate Filing Info → Chicago Board of Elections — Election Calendar → Chicago Board of Education — Elected School Board → Illinois State Board of Elections — Running for Office →

Last updated: 2026-04-08

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