NOTE: The instructions below and linked forms are applicable to every Illinois county EXCEPT for Cook County. Cook has a unique structure under Illinois law and Precinct Committeepersons are not elected by either the Republicans or Democrats in Cook.

HOW TO RUN FOR REPUBLICAN PRECINCT COMMITTEEPERSON

GET ON THE BALLOT

Form of Petition. Fill out the Precinct Committeeperson Primary Petition and print the completed form.

Circulate Petitions. The LAST DAY to collect signatures (and file them) is [TBD].

HELPFUL TIP: Be the first to sign your own Petition! As a candidate, you can both sign (as a registered voter) and circulate your own Precinct Committeeperson Primary Election Petition. Since this post is a party office — as opposed to a public office — the [TBD] Republican Primary IS the election. Democrats elect their own Precinct Committeeperson on the same day in their own party primary election.

Meet the Signature Requirements. Petitions must contain the valid signatures of a minimum of 10 eligible primary electors (registered voters) in the precinct in which you are running. Again, sign your own petition, and now you only need 9 more.

HELPFUL TIP: While not legally required, we recommend getting at least twice the minimum number of required signatures. You can likely complete the whole process in one morning or afternoon. The office of your County Clerk can provide you with a map of your precinct at little or no charge.

File Your Candidate Papers. The filing period at your County Clerk BEGINS [TBD]and ENDS at the close of business [TBD]. The following documents must be filed with your Office of County Clerk during that filing window:

  1. Precinct Committeeperson Petitions. All petition pages must be numbered; bound together (just staple; or better yet use a hole-punch & fasteners); and have each page notarized. TRIPLE CHECK COMPLETION OF THESE MANDATORY STEPS.
  2. Statement of Candidacy. This page also must be notarized. AND NOTE: the referenced Statement of Economic Interests is NOT filed for Republican Precinct Committeeperson or any other party office. The Statement of Economic Interests is ONLY for PUBLIC offices.
  3. Loyalty Oath. Optional, not legally required, but most candidates do go ahead and file this simple form as part of their complete package.

Attach your Statement of Candidacy (and Loyalty Oath, if you choose to file one) on top of your numbered Committeeperson Petition sheets. All sheets of your filing must be securely attached together. You are now ready to file with your County Clerk.

Make and keep a copy of your complete filing for yourself. BUT BE CERTAIN THAT THE ALL PAGES YOU FILE WITH THE COUNTY CLERK ARE THE ORIGINALS AS SIGNED BY YOUR PETITION SIGNERS.

Feel free to review a copy of the Illinois State Board of Elections 2024 Candidate’s Guide. The 2024 Candidate’s Guide contains a helpful Frequently Asked Questions section. The forms and simple instructions we’ve listed above are really all you need to complete the entire process of getting on the ballot as a candidate for Precinct Committeeperson. But we link that additional state resource for those who might find it helpful.

If you have any questions regarding the process for running for Republican Precinct Committeeperson, the required forms, or any other matter, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Doug Ibendahl, at (312) 648-0061 or doug.ibendahl@mail.com.

Paid for by Republican Precinct Project. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.

The Republican Precinct Project is not affiliated with any candidate or candidate committee.