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Note: This post was updated on 10/21/24 to improve accuracy and clarity, and includes additional resources. 

The General Election, which includes voting for the next President of the United States, is Tuesday, November 5. Candidate filing deadlines are also approaching for another election coming up in the spring: the Consolidated Election in April 2025 for local races, including the mayor, village trustees, and several other races. This post includes resources for voters in the General Election, and potential local candidates for the Consolidated Election. 

General Voter Information 

Check your voter registration status and find your polling place, including early voting places, with the Cook County Clerk’s Office. If you’re not registered to vote, there’s still time to register. You can register online, by mail (there are also forms available in non-English languages), or in person, including at Village Hall. 

If you’d rather not vote in person, you may request a mail ballot. Cook County has an option to request a mail ballot online or by mailing in a form, which is also available in non-English languages. There is currently no legal way to vote online in Illinois; resources that tell you otherwise are sharing disinformation. 

November General Election 

The Cook County Clerk has a sample ballot available. When you submit your address, the website will show you exactly what your ballot will look like. Using the Cook County Clerk’s sample ballot is the most accurate way to find what you'll be voting on in November. 

Here are two ballot items that you may not know a lot about, with resources to be an informed voter. 

Judges 

There is typically an extensive list of judicial items on the ballot. Some of these judicial items may be contested races among multiple candidates, while others are votes for retention. In votes for retention, current Cook County judges appear on the ballot with a yes/no question of whether they should retain their office.  

To aid voters’ research about judges on the ballot, major legal groups like the Illinois State Bar Association publish voter guides. Another reputable resource for local judicial ballot items is Injustice Watch, a nonprofit news agency focused on the Cook County court system. Their judicial voting guides collect recommendations from a range of sources, as well as information about each judge’s credentials and any controversies surrounding them. The Injustice Watch voter guide for the November election is now available. 

Ballot Measures 

There are three Illinois statewide ballot measures to vote on this November. These three measures are advisory questions, which means they are not legally binding. A majority result on any of these items does not mean that there will be new laws to that effect, though legislators will keep the results in mind going forward. NBC has the text of these ballot measures. 

There will also be one ballot measure for Skokie voters, from the Village of Skokie, regarding term limits. This ballot measure is binding, meaning that approval of the measure will immediately change the Village Code. A majority of “yes” votes from Skokie voters will add a limit of no more than three terms for the offices of Skokie mayor, village trustees, and the village clerk.  

You may have heard about a potential second Skokie ballot measure. The Village did consider a referendum about ranked-choice voting but ultimately decided against including it on the November ballot. 

The April Consolidated Election 

Elections for Skokie offices will appear on the consolidated election ballot in April 2025. For those interested in running for local office in the spring election, the dates to file candidacy paperwork are approaching soon.  

Getting on the Ballot 

Many elected offices in Skokie will have races on the ballot this coming spring: 

• Mayor 
• Village trustees 
• Village clerk 
• Skokie Park District commissioners 
• School board members for every Skokie district
• Library trustees 

The Illinois State Board of Elections provides information for candidates and those interested in running for office in local elections. The 2025 resources for candidates include: 

• 2025 Candidate’s Guide: According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, the candidate’s guide “includes a listing of the offices to be nominated or elected, filing dates, general requirements for filing, and specific requirements for individual offices.” 
• 2025 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar: According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, “[t]his calendar includes all offices to be nominated and/or elected for municipalities, townships, libraries, parks, school districts, and other special purpose districts in the Consolidated Primary Election in February 2025, and the Consolidated Election in April 2025.” 

The Skokie Park District has made information available for community members interested in running for the Skokie Park District Board of Commissioners. 

Community members with questions about running for Skokie elected offices can contact the Village Clerk’s Office. 

Electoral Changes 

Last year, Skokie voters approved changes to the electoral process for the Village Board. Previously, all six trustees had been considered “at large,” meaning they represented everyone living in Skokie, no matter their address. Now, Skokie is divided into four election districts. While two trustees will still be elected at large, the other four trustees will each represent a specific district. In addition, future elections for these district trustees will be staggered from elections for the at-large trustees. The Village has more information on these electoral changes, including in which years each office will appear on the ballot. 

More Information

If you have questions about the election process or upcoming ballot items, some great online resources are available from the League of Women Voters, Ballotpedia, and Injustice Watch for judges. Our staff are also available to help you find resources. Stop by the Help Desk on the second floor or email our research team.