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School Board Member — Suburban Cook County — Suburban Cook County School Districts, Illinois (100+ districts)

Filing Fee: No filing fee Term: 4-year term Seats: Most boards have 7 members with staggered 4-year terms, so typically 3 or 4 seats are on the ballot per election. Contact your school district or the Cook County Clerk to confirm how many seats are up in your district in 2027. Election: April 6, 2027

✓ Who Can Run

Be at least 18 years old
Be a U.S. citizen and a registered voter in Illinois
Have lived within your school district for at least 1 year before the election
Not be a child sex offender, school trustee, or school treasurer
Not have been convicted of a felony (unless voting rights have been restored)

📋 What You Need to File

Collect voter signatures on nomination petition sheets — you need at least 50 valid signatures from registered voters in your district, OR 10% of the votes cast in the last election for that seat, whichever number is smaller. Call the Cook County Clerk at (312) 603-0900 to confirm the exact number required for your district.
File a Statement of Candidacy (SBE Form P-1)
File a Statement of Economic Interests with the Cook County Clerk first, then attach the receipt to your nomination papers when you file. 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 opens — earliest you can collect signatures ~September 22, 2026
Candidate filing window ~November–December 2026
Election Day April 6, 2027

📍 Where to File

Cook County Clerk, Elections Division — 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602 | Phone: (312) 603-0900 | cookcountyclerkil.gov

🔗 Helpful Links

Cook County Clerk — Candidates & Officials → Illinois State Board of Elections — Running for Office → IASB — Information for School Board Candidates → PA 103-600 Filing Date Change Notice (July 2024) →

Last updated: 2026-04-08

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