Illinois Petition Signature Requirements (2025–2026)
How many signatures you need to qualify for the ballot in Illinois, the 2025–2026 petition filing windows, and how to validate your signatures against the Illinois voter file.
5%
Of enrolled voters — State Treasurer, Secretary Of State
October 26, 2026
Next deadline — general petition
Signature requirements by office
| Office | Minimum signatures | % of enrolled voters | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Treasurer, Secretary Of State | — | 5% | |
| Attorney General | — | 5% | |
| Governor, Lieutenant Governor | — | 5% | |
| State Senator, State Representative | — | 5% | |
| U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative | — | 5% | |
| Governor | — | 5% | |
| Mayor, City Treasurer — Chicago | 12,500 | — | |
| Board of Education Member (At-Large) — Chicago | 2,500 | — | |
| Board of Education Member — Chicago | 500 | — | |
| City Councilor — Chicago | 473 | — |
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Official sources
Always confirm requirements and deadlines with the official Illinois election authority before you file:
Illinois State Board of ElectionsFrequently asked questions
How many signatures do I need to get on the ballot in Illinois?
Illinois signature requirements vary by office. State Treasurer, Secretary Of State: 5% of enrolled voters; Attorney General: 5% of enrolled voters; Governor, Lieutenant Governor: 5% of enrolled voters. See the full table above for all offices.
What is the 2025–2026 petition filing deadline in Illinois?
For the 2025–2026 cycle in Illinois, the next petition deadline is October 26, 2026. Create a free account to see every filing window.
Can I validate Illinois petition signatures myself?
Yes. Petition Validator lets you upload petition pages and automatically matches each signer against the Illinois voter file — checking registration, address, and duplicates in seconds per signature. You can start free, no paid Victory Waves account required.
How does signature validation work?
You upload images of your petition pages; our system transcribes each signature and matches the signer's name, address, and date against official voter registration data to confirm they're a registered voter in the correct jurisdiction.
Petition requirements in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- District of Columbia
Last updated for the 2025–2026 cycle on July 17, 2026. Always confirm requirements and deadlines with your state or local election authority.