Written by Doug Ibendahl and reprinted with permission:

How to Run for Republican Precinct Committeeperson in Illinois

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. However, in Cook County all 50 Chicago Republican Ward Committeeperson positions are up for election this cycle in the city. For instructions & forms to run for that office in Chicago, go HERE. [The 30 Republican Township Committeeperson positions in suburban Cook County are not up for election until 2026.]

MEET THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a United States citizen.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be a resident & registered voter in the precinct where you are running.

GET ON THE BALLOT

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

Circulate Petitions. The LAST DAY to collect signatures and to file them with your County Clerk is Monday, December 4.

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 Petition. Since Precinct Committeeperson is a party office — as opposed to a public office — the March 19, 2024 Republican Primary IS the election. Democrats elect their own Precinct Committeepersons on the same day in their own party primary election.

Meet the Signature Requirement. 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 strongly recommend getting at least twice the minimum number of required signatures, in other words, a minimum of 20 signatures for filing. [I strongly agree.] 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, and possibly direct you to an online map.

File Your Candidate Papers. The one week window for filing your papers with your County Clerk BEGINS on November 27 and ENDS at the close of business on Monday, December 4, 2023. The following documents must be filed with your Office of County Clerk during that filing window — just click on the name of the document to get the form:

1. Precinct Committeeperson Primary Petition. All petition pages must be: (a) numbered, (b) securely bound together, and (c) notarized. TRIPLE CHECK COMPLETION OF THESE MANDATORY STEPS.
2. Statement of Candidacy. This page must also be notarized. IMPORTANT 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 and this is not one.
3. Loyalty Oath. Optional, not legally required, but most candidates do file this simple form as part of their complete package. Must also be notarized.

[These same 3 forms are also linked in the 2024 Candidate’s Guide published by the Illinois State Board of Elections—on page 65.]

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 (staple ALL pages together, or use a 2-hole-punch & fasteners at the top of all pages).

Again, the Statement of Candidacy goes on top. 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 ALL PAGES YOU FILE WITH THE COUNTY CLERK ARE THE ORIGINALS AS SIGNED BY YOUR PETITION SIGNERS.

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.