New Election Deadlines Signed Into Law

On July 6, 2010, Governor Quinn signed into law changes to the Election Code affecting the deadlines for filing both referenda and nominating petitions. The changes take effect immediately and will affect public questions on the ballot this November and the filing of school board nominating petitions for next April. School districts and potential candidates should take note of the new requirements in P.A. 96-1008.

The amendments move the deadline for referenda up two weeks earlier than the prior deadline. Petitions to place a public question on the ballot must now be filed by citizens 92 days before the election (no later than Monday, August 2, 2010). Resolutions to place a referenda question on the ballot must be adopted by the school board 79 days before the election (no later than Monday, August 16, 2010).

Nominating petitions for school board and other elected positions must now be filed between 113 and 106 days before the consolidated election. Previously, nominating petitions had to be filed between 78 and 71 days in advance. As a result, instead of being filed in January 2011, nominating petitions for the school board elections on April 5, 2011, must now be filed between December 13 and December 20, 2010.

These deadlines are firm requirements. Please make note of these new dates in your calendar to ensure your public questions are placed on the ballot at the election of your choosing.