Illinois local trial court judicial elections, 2023
 |
Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • How to run for office |
 |
- Main articles: State judicial elections, 2023 and Local trial court judicial elections, 2023
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of elections in America's 100 largest cities by population. This coverage extends to every office on the ballot for residents of these cities, including local trial court judges. In 2023, Ballotpedia covered the following local elections in this state:
- Chicago, Illinois - Mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, city council, and police district councils
- Springfield, Illinois - Mayor and city council
If the above list includes local trial court judgeships, click the links for more information about the elections. Click here to learn more about how the judges in this state are selected. Ballotpedia did not cover all local trial court judicial elections in this state in 2023. Please consider donating to Ballotpedia to help us expand our coverage of these elections.
Election rules
Primary election
The general primary occurs on the third Tuesday in March.[1] Unlike many states with contested judicial elections, races in Illinois are regularly contested, often with several candidates running for a seat. The Illinois primary is closed, meaning that voters must declare which major political party's ballot they wish to vote on.[2]
The candidate that wins the most votes in the primary advances to the general election to compete against the candidate from the other party.[1] If only one party has candidates in a primary race, that winner will continue on to run unopposed in the general election.[3] Uncontested primary candidates are not included on the primary ballot but instead automatically advance to the general election.[1][4]
General election
The general election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.[1]
Retention election
At the expiration of their term, judges may run for retention. Judges seeking retention are required to file a declaration of candidacy to succeed themselves with the secretary of state at least six months prior to the general election. The names of judges seeking retention are then given to voters on a special judicial ballot—without party designation and without an opposing candidate—featuring the sole question of whether he or she should be retained for another term in office.[5] Retention elections are held along with the general elections in the specific district or circuit where the judge is seeking retention. To be retained, judges must receive three-fifths of the vote.[6]
Additional elections
- See also: Illinois elections, 2023
See also
| Local courts | Illinois | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Illinois State Board of Elections, "Voting on Election Day," accessed January 25, 2016
- ↑ Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago, "2014 Primary: Frequently Asked Questions," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ The News-Gazette, "John Roska: Judicial elections explained," March 9, 2014
- ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "Unopposed Candidates Find Waiting The Primary Concern," February 3, 1992, accessed March 7, 2014
- ↑ The Illinois Courts, "About the Courts in Illinois," accessed March 10, 2014
- ↑ Illinois Constitution, Article VI, Section 12 (d)
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois
State courts:
Illinois Supreme Court • Illinois Appellate Court • Illinois Circuit Court
State resources:
Courts in Illinois • Illinois judicial elections • Judicial selection in Illinois
| ||||||||||
