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Candidate Filing Information

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Candidate Filing Information for the March 17, 2026 General Primary Election

The following forms have been created to allow users to complete on-line and print.

This site provided for informational purposes only.

Additional Election Information:

Candidates are strongly advised to obtain legal counsel regarding their legal qualifications for office, the proper method for completing the petition forms with respect to the office, the minimum and maximum number of signatures and any other filing requirements. Additional information may be obtained by calling the Sangamon County Election Office at (217) 753-8683 or by contacting the State Board of Elections at (217) 782-4141. In addition, a 2026 Candidate's Guide is now available for download.

Notice to Candidates Who Have Changed Names Within The Last Three Years (Source: P.A. 102-15, eff 6-17-21)

Countywide Offices - Established Party (County Clerk, County Sheriff, County Treasurer)

  • Minimum Age - 18 years
  • Residency - United States citizen.  Resident of the county for 30 days.  Registered voter in the county. (Sheriff candidates must be resident of the county for one year)
  • First Day to circulate petitions - Tuesday, August 5, 2025
  • When to File - Monday, October 27 - Monday, Novenber 3, 2025. Filing will begin at 8:00 a.m. on October 27th and will close at 5:00 p.m. on November 3rd. Ballot position is determined by time of filing.
  • What to File
    • Statement of Candidacy (P-1) - The Candidate's name should appear in the same form on the Statement of Candidacy as on the Petition Sheets.
    • Nominating Petitions (P-10) - The Candidate's name will appear on the ballot as it appears on the first page of the petition sheets. This form may be copied before circulation.
    • Certification of Deletions (P-2A) - ONLY if signatures are struck - The circulator or candidate may strike signatures from the petition sheets prior to filing. The person striking the signature must initial the petition at the place where the signature is struck and complete the Certificate of Deletions form listing the page number and line number of each signature struck.
    • Statement of Economic Interest - you may also call the Sangamon County Election Office to request an Economic Interest Statement (217-753-8683), request by e-mail or receive a blank form at the County Clerk's Office, Sangamon County Building, 200 S. Ninth Street, 1st Floor. Also, please note that the Statement of Economic Interest is to be filed with the Sangamon County Clerk. You will then receive a receipt, which should be filed with your nomination papers.
    • Loyalty Oath (P-1C) - optional
  • Where to File - Sangamon County Building, 200 S. 9th Street, County Election Office, 1st Floor. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. NOTE: On the last day of filing (November 3rd), the office will be open until 5:00 p.m.
  • How to File - Candidates may file in person, by mail or may have someone else file their papers on their behalf. NOTE: On the first day of filing, anyone who is in line as of 8:00 a.m., as well as those petitions received in the first mail delivery, will be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. and a lottery will be held for ballot position. On the last day of filing, anyone filing between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. will be subject to a lottery to see who gets the last spot on the ballot.
  • Signature Requirement Minimums - Democratic: 246, Republican: 399

Additional Filing Information for County Clerk Candidates (who also serves as Capital Township Assessor)
* A candidate for county ASSESSOR must possess one of the following qualifications as certified by the individual to the county clerk:  A Certified Illinois Assessing Official certificate from the IL. Property Assessment Institute or a Certified Assessment Evaluator designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers.  In addition, a person must have had at least 2 years’ experience in the field of property sales, assessments, finance, or appraisals and must have passed an examination conducted by the Dept. of Revenue. (35 ILCS 200/3-45)  For additional information, contact the Property Tax Assessment Education Program Unit by email at rev.PropTaxEd@illinois.gov or the IL Dept. of Revenue at (217) 785-6636.

Additional Filing Information for Sheriff Candidates:  A candidate for sheriff shall not be a convicted felon, must be a resident of the county for 1 year, and has completed the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training Course as prescribed by the IL. Law Enforcement Training Standards Board or a substantially similar training program. (55 ILCS 5/3-6001.5)

County Board Members - Established Party (County Board Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 18, 20, 21, 23, 26, 29)

  • Minimum Age - 18 years
  • Residency - United States citizen. Registered voter in the county board district.  In counties of 3,000,000 or less, no person is eligible to hold the office of county board member unless that person is a legal voter and has been a resident of the county for at least one year next preceding the election. (55 ILCS 5/2-3015)
  • First Day to circulate petitions - Tuesday, August 5, 2025
  • When to File - Monday, October 27 - Monday, Novenber 3, 2025. Filing will begin at 8:00 a.m. on October 27th and will close at 5:00 p.m. on November 3rd. Ballot position is determined by time of filing.
  • What to File
    • Statement of Candidacy (P-1) - The Candidate's name should appear in the same form on the Statement of Candidacy as on the Petition Sheets.
    • Nominating Petitions (P-26) - The Candidate's name will appear on the ballot as it appears on the first page of the petition sheets. This form may be copied before circulation.
    • Certification of Deletions (P-2A) - ONLY if signatures are struck - The circulator or candidate may strike signatures from the petition sheets prior to filing. The person striking the signature must initial the petition at the place where the signature is struck and complete the Certificate of Deletions form listing the page number and line number of each signature struck.
    • Statement of Economic Interest - you may also call the Sangamon County Election Office to request an Economic Interest Statement (217-753-8683), request by e-mail or receive a blank form at the County Clerk's Office, Sangamon County Building, 200 S. Ninth Street, 1st Floor. Also, please note that the Statement of Economic Interest is to be filed with the Sangamon County Clerk. You will then receive a receipt, which should be filed with your nomination papers.
    • Loyalty Oath (P-1C) - optional
  • Where to File - Sangamon County Building, 200 S. 9th Street, County Election Office, 1st Floor. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. NOTE: On the last day of filing (November 3rd), the office will be open until 5:00 p.m.
  • How to File - Candidates may file in person, by mail or may have someone else file their papers on their behalf. NOTE: On the first day of filing, anyone who is in line as of 8:00 a.m., as well as those petitions received in the first mail delivery, will be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. and a lottery will be held for ballot position. On the last day of filing, anyone filing between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. will be subject to a lottery to see who gets the last spot on the ballot.
  • Signature Requirements (click for chart)

Precinct Committeeperson - Established Party

  • Minimum Age - 18 years
  • Residency - United States Citizen.  Registered voter of the precinct.
  • First Day to circulate petitions - Tuesday, August 5, 2025
  • When to File - Monday, October 27 - Monday, Novenber 3, 2025. Filing will begin at 8:00 a.m. on October 27th and will close at 5:00 p.m. on November 3rd. Ballot position is determined by time of filing.
  • What to File
    • Statement of Candidacy (P-1) - The Candidate's name should appear in the same form on the Statement of Candidacy as on the Petition Sheets.
    • Nominating Petitions (P-27) - The Candidate's name will appear on the ballot as it appears on the first page of the petition sheets. This form may be copied before circulation.
    • Certification of Deletions (P-2A) - ONLY if signatures are struck - The circulator or candidate may strike signatures from the petition sheets prior to filing. The person striking the signature must initial the petition at the place where the signature is struck and complete the Certificate of Deletions form listing the page number and line number of each signature struck.
    • Loyalty Oath (P-1C) optional
  • Where to File - Sangamon County Building, 200 S. 9th Street, County Election Office, 1st Floor. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. NOTE: On the last day of filing (November 3rd), the office will be open until 5:00 p.m.
  • How to File - Candidates may file in person, by mail or may have someone else file their papers on their behalf. NOTE: On the first day of filing, anyone who is in line as of 8:00 a.m., as well as those petitions received in the first mail delivery, will be deemed filed as of 8:00 a.m. and a lottery will be held for ballot position. On the last day of filing, anyone filing between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. will be subject to a lottery to see who gets the last spot on the ballot.
  • Signature Requirements - A minimum of 10 primary electors of his/her party in his/her precinct. [10 ILCS 5/7-10(i)]