Nominating Petition Packet for 2027
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF TRUSTEE
WEST CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
ELECTION DATE: The date of the Consolidated Election is Tuesday, April 6, 2027.
OFFICES TO BE ELECTED: There are four (4) seats for election for the office of Trustee. Library Trustees are elected for a 4-year term. Upon successful election, Library Trustees will be sworn in at the May 24, 2027 board meeting.
QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must be registered to vote and residents of the West Chicago Public Library District for at least one year at the time he or she files nomination papers.
CIRCULATION PERIOD: Petition sheets may be circulated beginning Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
FILING PERIOD: November 16 – November 23, 2026 (not more than 113 nor less than 106 days prior to the Consolidated Election).
FILING TIME: Monday, November 16 – Friday, November 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Sunday, November 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and Monday, November 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Administrative Office.
BALLOT ORDER: The order of the ballot is determined by the order in which the petitions are filed. If two or more candidates are waiting to file petitions when the Library opens a lottery will take place to determine who will be first on the ballot. Anyone who mails in a petition, which is received that morning is considered part of the tie and will also be included in the lottery. After this, order is determined by the order in which petitions are filed. A similar lottery will be held at filing closing time, if more than one person files during the last hour.
LOTTERY: If a lottery becomes necessary, the local election official will give seven (7) days written notice of the time and place of the lottery to the candidates involved and a notice will be posted. Both lotteries, if necessary, will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2026 at the Library. The lotteries will be public and scheduled as follows: 10:00 a.m., first place lottery; 10:15 a.m., last place lottery.
SIGNATURES AND REQUIREMENTS: A number of qualified voters residing in the District equivalent to at least 2% of the votes cast at the last election for library trustee, or 50, whichever is less. To be eligible to sign a petition, a person must be a registered voter and a resident of the Library District.
CIRCULATORS: The person circulating the petition must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen at the time the petition is circulated. The person does not have to be a registered voter. All signatures must be taken in the presence of the person circulating the petitions.
CANDIDATES MUST FILE THE FOLLOWING: [Most of which is included in the Nominating Petition Packet, with the Local Election Official (Library Board Secretary) or her deputy at the time and place given above]:
- Receipt for filing Statement of Economic Interest (Statement must be filed with the County Clerk of the county in which the principal office of the Library is located (DuPage) by Monday, November 23, 2026, the last day to file. The Statement must be filed during the calendar year in which the nominating petitions are filed.
- Statement of candidacy (must be notarized)
- Petitions (must be notarized)
- Loyalty Oath, which is optional (must be notarized)
These documents are to be attached – not stapled — (preferably on top) to the nominating petitions.
CANDIDATES SHOULD RECEIVE FROM THE LIBRARY AT THE TIME OF FILING:
- Notice of obligation to comply with the Illinois Campaign Financing Act.
- Receipt for filing petition and Statement of Candidacy.
OBJECTIONS: May be filed with local election official within five (5) business days following the last day of the petition filing period.
CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: File with the State Board of Elections and County Clerk.
Please refer to the Candidate’s Guide for complete information.
DISCLAIMER: The Library cannot provide legal advice and nothing herein should be construed as such. Candidates are advised to seek legal counsel as to their qualifications for office, the proper method for completing the petition forms with respect to the office sought, signatures required, the qualifications of the signatories and circulators, as well as other mandatory requirements. The information provided herein is provided as a courtesy, and all candidates are responsible for determining and complying with all legal requirements. More information is available in the 2027 Candidates Guide and may be found at elections.il.gov.