Elections

• Each candidate must be a qualified elector of the City of Aurora
• Each candidate must be a resident of the City for one (1) year preceding election or appointment
• No person shall be eligible to hold office who is in arrears in the payment of taxes, assessments, fines and service charges levied or assessed by the City; and
• No person shall be eligible to hold office who has been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury or other felony
• A candidate for alderperson may be elected from any ward that contains a part of the ward in which he or she resided at least one year next preceding the election that follows the redistricting, and, if elected, that person may be reelected from the new ward he or she represents if he or she resides in that ward for at least one year next preceding reelection

The 2025 Candidate’s Guide, including the recommended forms and other pertinent information, is available online from the Illinois State Board of Elections and printed copies are available at the City Clerk’s Office.

To download the latest Candidate's Guide: 

1. Click on the link above
2. Choose the appropriate guide under the "Election Guides" dropdown
3. Click on the "Get Publication" button and a PDF version should generate

Please note that the City Clerk does not interpret statutes or provide legal or other election advice, and is not responsible for any information provided, or for misinterpretation or omissions by any candidate. Candidates seeking further information or legal interpretation should seek legal counsel or refer directly to Illinois statutes. Additional questions should be directed to the Illinois State Board of Elections at (312) 814-6440 or online at https://elections.il.gov.

As referenced above, a copy of the State of Illinois Candidate's Guide is published annually by the Illinois State Board of Elections. The Guide provides information on the election process to prospective candidates seeking office at the local level. It also provides general information, such as requirements for filing nominating papers, specific forms to be used, etc. The Illinois State Board of Elections also publishes a 2025 Local Election Official's Handbook and the 2025 Election & Campaign Finance Calendar.  All guides will be available on the Illinois State Board of Elections website: https://elections.il.gov/ when published by the State of Illinois.

The petition filing period is October 21 - 28, 2024 at the City of Aurora City Clerk's Office, 44 E. Downer Place, 1st Floor. The City Clerk will be open during regular business hours from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., during the filing period. 

In the event that two or more petitions are simultaneously filed for the same office as of the opening hour of the filing period or within the last hour of the filing deadline, the City Clerk (Local Election Official) shall break such ties by means of the lottery system approved by the Illinois State Board of Elections, within nine (9) calendar days after the last day of the petition filing period (on or before November 6, 2024).

If necessary, the Lottery for ballot placement will take place on November 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall 44 E. Downer Place, in City Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor.

The lottery system shall follow State Board of Elections' Rules and Regulations set forth in the Illinois Administrative Code Title 26 Section 201.40 and shall generally consist of the following process:

1. Candidate names are placed in alphabetical order and then numbered
2. Assigned numbers of candidates are placed into a container
3. After thoroughly shaken and mixed, numbers are drawn and the first number drawn shall be certified on the ballot ahead of the other candidates listed on the alphabetical list. All remaining numbers drawn shall be listed 2nd, 3rd, etc. 

Objections to Nomination Papers may be filed through November 4, 2024 during regular business hours of 8:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. at the office of the City Clerk. 

Electoral Board Meeting Information

The (3)-person Electoral Board, consisting of the Mayor, the longest serving Alderman, and the City Clerk (subject to statutorily required substitutions), will meet if objections are filed before the deadline stated above. Information regarding any scheduled Electoral Board meetings will be posted as they are scheduled.

Illinois law and judicial precedent govern the nomination process for candidates for local office and the process for making objections to nominating papers. Neither the City Clerk or City Clerk's staff takes responsibility or liability for a candidate's action or lack of action. Any information provided by City staff is not legal advice and is for reference purposes only. In accepting filings, the City Clerk's Office does not express any opinion as to the legal sufficiency or validity of any document. City staff may not provide candidates, objectors or members of the public with any advice as to the legal sufficiency or validity of a candidate's nominating papers or of any objections made to those nominating papers. Should the candidate have any questions regarding the elections and the nomination process, reference may be made to the Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 5/-1, et seq.), the Illinois State Board of Elections, or an attorney. Candidates and objectors are responsible for obtaining their own legal advice, it they choose to do so, throughout all the stages of nomination process. 

Voter Registration

You may register to vote via the Illinois Voter Application Website: https://ova.elections.il.gov/. You may also verify that you are registered to vote by using the Registration Lookup tool: https://ova.elections.il.gov/RegistrationLookup.aspx. Additional information about grace-period registration and voting, and early voting dates and locations are available on the Illinois Board of Elections website in addition to the individual websites of the Election Authorities (listed below). 

City residents can also register to vote at any County Clerk office in Illinois. The City of Aurora is in four counties. To find out more information regarding early voting, voting options and overall election questions, please contact the following:

Kane County Clerk 
630-232-5950
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. B, Geneva, IL 60134 and 5 E. Downer Place, Suite F, Aurora, IL 60507

DuPage County Election Commission
630-407-5600
421 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187

Kendall County Clerk
630-553-4104
111 West Fox Street, Yorkville, IL 60560

Will County Clerk
(815) 740-4615
302 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432

To find out what county you reside in, feel free to search your address using the City of Aurora My Place App.