Elections

School Board Elections 2025

School board elections are held during the Consolidated Election on the first Tuesday in April of each odd-numbered year. (If that date conflicts with Passover, the election moves to the second Tuesday.) Vacancies caused by death or resignation are filled by appointment (by the remaining board members) until the next election.

To Become a School Board Candidate, one must

  1. File a Statement of Economic Interests with the county clerk and obtain a receipt; these forms are available from the county clerk. 

  2. Obtain and complete a nominating petition signed by at least 50 registered voters or 10% of the voters, whichever is less; and a Statement of Candidacy. Nominating petition forms and Statements of Candidacy are available from the county clerk or county board of election commissioners. Filing Packet

These completed documents and the county clerk’s receipt for the Statement of Economic Interests must be filed with the county clerk no earlier than 113 days before the election and no later than 106 days before the election during normal office hours. 

Qualifications for a School Board Candidate

To qualify for school board membership, an individual must be, as of the date of election:

  • A United States citizen;

  • A resident of the state of Illinois and of the school district for at least one-year preceding election;

  • At least 18 years of age;

  • A registered voter; and

  • Not a school trustee.

Additional Links

Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB)

2025 Candidate's Guide

Date Changes for School Board Candidates

Future school board candidates should be advised that with the approval of Public Act 103-600 by Governor Pritzker on July 1, 2024, the filing period for petitions with the local county clerk to become a candidate for school board has changed. The filing period has moved up in the calendar from 141 to 134 days before the consolidated election on April 1, 2025. Candidates will now have from November 12-18, 2024, to file petitions for office with the local election authority.  Candidates can start circulating petitions for the April 1, 2025, election on August 20, 2024. 

Additional information from IASB about other key dates for the school board election will be released when available from the Illinois State Board of Elections. For more information, the Illinois State Board of Elections has published a 2025 Abbreviated Election Calendar.

Flowchart of Board of Education elections process