Be in the Know: Running as a Write-In Candidate in Cook County (Cook County, IL) — Running as a write-in candidate in Illinois requires careful adherence to election rules and deadlines. Any individual seeking to be a write-in candidate must file a Declaration of Intent to be a Write-in Candidate with the appropriate election authority. Without this official declaration, any votes cast for the individual will not be counted. The deadline for filing this declaration is December 26, 2024, for the Consolidated Primary Election, and January 30, 2025, for the Consolidated Election. The necessary forms can be obtained from the election authority.
In some cases, a write-in candidate can force a primary election that would otherwise be uncontested. This rule applies specifically to nonpartisan and established party villages, as well as established party cities. To do so, the candidate must file a notarized Declaration of Intent with the local election official at least 68 days before the election (by December 19, 2024) and with the election authority at least 61 days before the election (by December 26, 2024).
For candidates seeking to become the nominee of an established party in the Consolidated Election, additional requirements must be met. The write-in candidate must receive a number of votes in the Consolidated Primary that is equal to or greater than the number of petition signatures required for ballot access. However, this rule applies only if the number of candidates listed on the ballot is fewer than the number of nominations available for that office.
There are also restrictions on write-in candidacy for those who have previously run in the election cycle. If a candidate competes in the Consolidated Primary Election and is defeated, they are not allowed to run as a write-in candidate for the same office in the Consolidated Election. The same restriction applies to candidates who participated in a party caucus and were not nominated.
These rules are in place to ensure fairness and transparency in the election process. Prospective write-in candidates should carefully review filing requirements and deadlines to ensure their eligibility and to avoid disqualification.
Be in the Know: Running as a Write-In Candidate in Cook County
