Ready or not, here it comes: The 2023 local election cycle is about to begin

Just when you thought campaign season was over and the deluge of political mailers and ads had receded … get ready for more.

Candidates running for mayor and seats on municipal, school, library, park district and township boards in the April 4 consolidated local election have been circulating petitions in local neighborhoods since September, and they’ll be filing the paperwork over the next week.

For races eligible for Feb. 28 primaries, petition filing began Nov. 21 and ended Nov. 28.

Few municipalities in the north, west or northwest suburbs have primary elections, and most are held only if the number of candidates is excessive. Such communities include Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Aurora, Elgin, Waukegan and Naperville.

The last day to file objections to nomination papers in races with primaries or petitions for public questions set to appear on primary ballots is Dec. 5.

The deadline for boards or councils to approve resolutions for referendums is Dec. 12.

Early voting in primary races runs Jan. 19 to Feb. 27.

For most of the suburbs, the filing period for local governmental offices runs Dec. 12-19.

None of the cities or villages in the Kane County Chronicle’s coverage area has mayoral seats up for election in April. However, there are City Council seats up in Geneva, St. Charles and Batavia, and trustee seats up in Elburn and Sugar Grove. Local school districts also have seats up for election, as do local park districts and library boards.

Suburbs with mayoral seats in 2023 include Buffalo Grove, Downers Grove, Elgin, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Naperville, Oak Brook, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg and Wheaton.

The last day to object to a candidate’s nominating papers for the April ballot is Dec. 27.

Agencies and community groups that want to put questions on the April ballot have a little more time. The deadline for filing community petitions for referendums is Jan. 3. The deadline for resolutions calling for referendums is Jan. 17.

The last day to object to a public petition for a referendum for April ballots is Jan. 10.

For races that don’t require primaries, early voting runs Feb. 23 to April 3.

Kane County Chronicle editor Aimee Barrows contributed to this report.

Source: The Daily Chronicle