Last Day To File for Precinct Committeeperson

There are relatively few people who have filed for what used to be called Precinct Committeeman.

Deadline for getting the notarized paperwork and signatures to the County Clerk’s Office is 5 PM.

From attorney Doug Ibendahl’s Republican News Watch. reprinted with permission:

How to run for Republican Precinct Committeeperson

“There is no task or project too great, there is no dream outside of our reach. Don’t ever let anyone tell you it can’t be done. The future lies with the dreamers, not the cynics and the critics.” – President Donald J. Trum

We founded the Republican Precinct Project eight years ago in response to the fact that really no one – including our State Republican Party – was making a serious effort to recruit good people for one of the most important political posts out there: the office of Republican Precinct Committeeperson.

There are nearly 7,000 total precincts in Illinois, but we found that in over half of those, typically not even one person was bothering to run for Republican Precinct Committeeperson!

Precinct Committeepersons serve a 2-year term and every precinct in Illinois (in every county except for Cook County) will elect a Republican Precinct Committeeperson at the March 17, 2020 Republican Primary Election (in every precinct where a Republican bothered to run).

The filing deadline to get on the March 17 ballot is December 2.

Sadly, cynics and critics have for too long discouraged good people from getting involved, often simply out of selfishness.

And it’s hardly surprising that many people remained uninspired to help an all-talk-and-no-action Republican Party.

President Donald J. Trump has changed all that.

Donald Trump stepped up to serve because he looked around and saw a job that wasn’t getting done.

If you love our President like we do and have been wondering what else you can do to help — this is your chance.

The Republican Precinct Project is looking for actual doers who want to help President Trump advance his positive, pro-growth, America First agenda – in other words, serious people who want to support our President in Illinois and who want to start laying the groundwork for Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election.

If you don’t do it, no one will.

One look around the Republican Party in Illinois and you can see the job isn’t getting done.

If you really want to help Keep America Great! – it’s time to take the next step. It’s time for you to take your seat at the table..

NOTE: The instructions below and linked forms are applicable to every Illinois county EXCEPT for Cook County. Cook has a unique structure under Illinois law and Precinct Committeepersons are not elected by either the Republicans or Democrats in Cook. Instead, each of the 50 wards in Chicago will elect a Republican Ward Committeeperson at the March 17, 2020 Republican Primary. The job of a Ward Committeeperson in Chicago is substantially the same as a Precinct Committeeperson elsewhere, but the petition signature requirements differ. Full details: Run for Republican Ward Committeeperson in Chicago.

HOW TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF REPUBLICAN PRECINCT COMMITTEEPERSON

MEET THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be a United States citizen.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Must be a registered voter in the precinct.

GET ON THE BALLOT

Form of Petition. Fill out the Precinct Committeeperson Primary Petition and print the completed form.

Circulate Petitions. You may BEGIN circulating your Petitions on September 3, 2019. The LAST DAY to collect signatures (and file them) is December 2, 2019..

HELPFUL TIP: Be the first to sign your own Petition! As a candidate, you can both sign (as a registered voter) and circulate your own Precinct Committeeperson Primary Election Petition. Since this post is a party office — as opposed to a public office — the March 17, 2020 Republican Primary IS the election. Democrats elect their own Precinct Committeeperson on the same day in their own party primary election.

Meet the Signature Requirements. Petitions must contain the valid signatures of a minimum of 10 eligible primary electors (registered voters) in the precinct in which you are running. Again, sign your own petition, and now you only need 9 more.

HELPFUL TIP: While not legally required, we recommend getting at least twice the minimum number of required signatures. You can likely complete the whole process in one morning or afternoon. The office of your County Clerk can provide you with a map of your precinct at little or no charge.

File Your Candidate Papers. The filing period at your County Clerk BEGINS November 25, 2019 and ENDS at the close of business December 2, 2019 [5 PM]. The following documents must be filed with your Office of County Clerk during that filing window:

  1. Precinct Committeeperson Petitions. All petition pages must be numbered; bound together (just staple; or better yet use a hole-punch & fasteners); and have each page notarized. TRIPLE CHECK COMPLETION OF THESE MANDATORY STEPS.
  2. Statement of Candidacy. This page also must be notarized. AND NOTE: the referenced Statement of Economic Interests is NOT filed for Republican Precinct Committeeperson or any other party office. The Statement of Economic Interests is ONLY for PUBLIC offices.
  3. Loyalty Oath. Optional, not legally required, but most candidates do go ahead and file this simple form as part of their complete package.

Attach your Statement of Candidacy (and Loyalty Oath, if you choose to file one) on top of your numbered Committeeperson Petition sheets. All sheets of your filing must be securely attached together. You are now ready to file with your County Clerk.

Make and keep a copy of your complete filing for yourself. BUT BE CERTAIN THAT THE ALL PAGES YOU FILE WITH THE COUNTY CLERK ARE THE ORIGINALS AS SIGNED BY YOUR PETITION SIGNERS.

Feel free to review a copy of the Illinois State Board of Elections 2020 Candidate’s Guide. The 2020 Candidate’s Guide contains a helpful Frequently Asked Questions section. The forms and simple instructions we’ve listed above are really all you need to complete the entire process of getting on the ballot as a candidate for Precinct Committeeperson. But we link that additional state resource for those who might find it helpful

For more information about the role of a Republican Precinct Committeeperson, including some frequently asked questions about the position, read What is a Republican Precinct Committeeperson?

If you have any questions regarding the process for running for Republican Precinct Committeeperson, the required forms, or any other matter, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Doug Ibendahl, at (312) 648-0061 or doug.ibendahl@mail.com.

Paid for by Republican Precinct Project. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois..

The Republican Precinct Project is not affiliated with any candidate or candidate committee.


Comments

Last Day To File for Precinct Committeeperson — 1 Comment

  1. This state is blue, aside from the areas that are lacking in education.

    This country is blue, aside from the areas that are lacking in education.

    Sad!

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