Tag: petitions

Democratic Party, Election Information, On the Ballot, petitions, Precinct Committeeperson

August 5, 2025: Established Party Petition Circulation Begins For The March 17, 2026 Primary Election!

Lisa

FUN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW !!!!!!
Tis the season! Precinct Committeepersons, candidates and their volunteers will begin petition signature collection! It runs from August 5th through November 3rd, which is the last day for candidates to file Nominating Papers. Candidates usually wrap up petition season ASAP and weeks before filing deadlines. Petition signatures are how candidates get onto the ballot!

As a PC I will circulate petitions for myself and partake in one of my main duties which is to circulate for candidates. This is one of the most important processes voters can engage in aside from voting! This is also where you and your PC work together as a team!

WHO IS SEEKING BALLOT ACCESS?
PARTISAN
Precinct Committeepersons – elected on March 17, 2026
Candidates for November 2026 General Election – primary on March 17, 2026
NON PARTISAN
Candidates Municipal Election – elected March 17, 2026
(primary on February 3, 2026 if needed)

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHO / WHAT PARTY YOU ARE SIGNING FOR
Look carefully at the petition presented to you and find the established party the candidate is aligned with. This is very important. The first petition you sign determines the ONLY party you can sign petitions for in an election cycle. Also, you can sign for as many candidates of that party as you like.* Are there 3 Democrats running for County board? Sign for all of them if you choose!

I encourage you to ask more about the candidate at that time. Ask why they are running, how to contact them directly and what their platform is and offer up concerns you have that they can address. Good volunteers will take notes.
As YOUR PC, I already know these things and this is WHY getting to know your local PC is sooooo important!

A signer may not sign petitions for a candidate of more than one political party for the same election. (10 ILCS 5/7-10)
*This differs for Nonpartisan/Independent candidates (municipal election). The number of seats to be elected is the number of petitions that a voter can sign.

Below is a sample of a petition that I will use for my reelection as a PC for the Democratic party of McHenry County. You can see the established party as well as where I will write my full name, address and the election date. The petition format for other offices (county board, senate, congress, etc..) might be a little different but the same candidate info is required. Check petitions carefully before you sign.

NOTE: The party of the candidate you sign for does NOT limit you on who you can vote for in the primary election or the general election. Illinois has an open primary and does not require voters to register by party. Also you can change which established party you sign petitions for in future election cycles.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PETITION SIGNERS
1) Petition signers must use their own signature on the petition. A signer cannot sign for someone else, such as another member of the family or another person in the household.
2) Petition signers must be a registered voter in the political subdivision/district in which the candidate is seeking nomination or election. (10 ILCS 5/3-1.2, 7-10, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4)
3) Petition signers shall indicate on such petition their residence addresses (written or printed) including the street address or rural route number, as well as the city, village or town, county, and state. The state, county, city, village, and town of residence may be pre-printed on the petition form when all of the electors signing the petition form reside therein.
5) Petition signers must be a registered voter from the address shown opposite the signature on the petition. (10 ILCS 5/7-10, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4)
4) Standard abbreviations may be used in writing the residence address.

Election Information, petitions

Illinois Election Schedule – 2026

Lisa

In the state of Illinois you have an opportunity to flex your political muscle yearly.

Local, state, and congressional candidates will seek your vote. Below is the schedule of future elections on the Illinois State Board of Elections website. https://www.elections.il.gov/InformationForVoters.aspx?MID=I0cuvBFuZRw%3d

The dates for nominating petition circulation* and the first and last days for filing the petitions are not yet announced.

March 17, 2026 Midterm Primary Election (aka congressional, gubernatorial)
In this primary election you will vote for the candidates that you want to advance into the November 3, 2026 Midterm General Election. This is also when you elect PC’s for a 2 year term.

November 3, 2026 Midterm General Election

*nominating petition– Allows candidates ballot access
– (10 ILCS 5/7-10, 10-4) A registered voter must personally sign the petition for themselves only, they cannot sign a petition on behalf of another registered voter.
– (10 ILCS 5/10-4) Circulators of petitions for a partisan candidate, cannot circulate for more than one political party.
– A registered voter may sign for as many candidates of the same established political party as the person wants, but may not sign petitions for different established parties in the same election.

Democratic Party, Elections, McHenry County, petitions

A PC is Your Biggest Political Ally

Lisa

If you have a precinct committeeperson (PC) in your neighborhood get to know them. A precinct committeeperson literally delivers democracy to your door and is your biggest political ally. We educate and empower voters!

Focus on nominating petitions and why you need to participate

PC duties include:

  • Pass nominating petitions for candidates
  • Distributing candidate information
  • Voter education
  • Driving voter turnout within our precinct
  • Endorsing/Recommending candidates
  • Voter registration
  • Fundraising assistance
  • Recruiting election judges
  • Recruit volunteers
  • Pollwatching

You cannot for vote for candidates if they are not on your ballot.
Read that again. Have you ever wondered how candidates get onto your ballot? Your signature! One of my primary responsibilities is to circulate petitions. I literally bring democracy to your door when I knock for your signature. This is a team effort. It is THE most important way to participate in the electoral process besides voting.

Candidates can only gain ballot access if they meet the petition signature requirements set by the state of Illinois. Candidates running for US Congress, State, County and local offices may be required to collect dozens, hundreds, or thousands of petition signatures. This can be a serious challenge for candidates who are working against the clock, sometimes with little help, to meet a filing deadline. This is where you and I help!

I only circulate petitions for Democrats. I meet candidates in advance to gain an understanding of their platform and who they are, and if they are vetted by our local party. I am an advocate for the voters in my precinct. I protect your vote. Having a group of voters that understand the process, recognize me when I knock their door, and understand why I make brief visits during the election cycle allows for an increase in community participation.

Once a qualified voter (ex: you) signs a petition for a Democratic candidate (ex: county board) to appear on the primary ballot, they cannot sign a petition for a candidate of any other party for any other race (ex: senate, governor etc…) in the primary.

Imagine this: Someone comes to your door. They present you with petition. You sign it and it is your first petition of the primary season. They do not tell you what I just did. You later learn the person was a Republican candidate! Now you cannot sign petitions for any Democrats! Things just got more difficult.

If you get to know your PC you do not have to worry about this