Chicago election 2027: mayor, aldermen and every voting date

Election Day: Tuesday, February 23, 2027. Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Every date below comes from the Illinois State Board of Elections 2027 calendar; the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners runs the vote.

Until polls open in Chicago, 6 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2027

As of Monday, November 9, 2026: 106 days until Chicago's municipal election for mayor on Tuesday, February 23, 2027.

• Election DayTue, Feb 23, 2027Polls 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Register onlineBy Sun, Feb 7Or register and vote at the same visit
• Early votingStarts Thu, Jan 14Last day Mon, Feb 22
• Mayoral runoffTue, Apr 6, 2027Only if no one wins over 50%

What's on the Chicago ballot on February 23, 2027?

Chicago elects its mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and an alderperson (alderman) for every one of the 50 wards. These races are nonpartisan: no party label appears next to the names. A candidate who wins more than 50% of the vote wins the office outright; otherwise the top two go to a runoff on Tuesday, April 6, 2027. Your exact ballot depends on your address and ward: the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners posts sample ballots before early voting starts.

Who is running for Chicago mayor in 2027?

Filed, not final. These 16 people filed nominating petitions for mayor by the October 26, 2026 deadline, as reported by CBS News Chicago. Objections were filed against many of them, so the official ballot can be shorter. The final list comes from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners; Vote Clock will replace this list with it.

• Matt Brewer
• George Cardenas
• Danielle Carter-Walters
• Alexi Giannoulias
• Joe Holberg
• Brandon Johnson (incumbent)
• John Kelly
• John Kitover
• Zoe Ma
• Jessica "Jesse" Maronto
• Susana Mendoza
• Lisa Nee
• Maria Pappas
• Mike Quigley
• William (Bill) Quinlan
• Willie Wilson

Listed in alphabetical order by last name. Source: CBS News Chicago, updated October 27, 2026.

Chicago election 2027 dates and deadlines

• Wed, Nov 25 First day to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot Apply to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
• Thu, Jan 14 Early voting begins; mail ballots start going out Early voting opens at the election authority's office first; more sites open closer to Election Day.
• Tue, Jan 26 Last day to register in person at the election office or by mail (postmark) After this, grace period registration lets you register and vote at the same visit.
• Sun, Feb 7 Online voter registration closes At the Illinois online voter registration site, ova.elections.il.gov.
• Thu, Feb 18 Last day for the Board to receive a vote-by-mail application by mail In person, you can still apply through Monday, February 22.
• Mon, Feb 22 Last day of early voting; last day to apply for a mail ballot in person
• Tue, Feb 23 Election Day: polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Register and vote at your own polling place on Election Day (grace period). Mail ballots must be postmarked by today.
• Tue, Mar 9 Last day a mail ballot postmarked by Election Day can arrive and be counted Ballots must arrive within 14 days after the election.
• Tue, Mar 16 Last day to canvass the results (results become official)
• Tue, Apr 6 Runoff for mayor, clerk, treasurer or alderperson, only where no one won over 50% The top two candidates in each such race face each other.

Source: Illinois State Board of Elections 2027 calendar (10 ILCS 5/1A-16.5, 4-50, 19-2, 19-8, 19A-15). A date shows "Ended" once it has passed.

How to register to vote in Chicago

Online through Sunday, February 7, 2027, at ova.elections.il.gov with an Illinois driver's license or state ID. By mail, postmarked by Tuesday, January 26. In person at the Board's office, 69 W. Washington St., through January 26; after that, grace period registration lets you register and vote at the same visit at an early voting site, and on Election Day at your own polling place. Bring two forms of ID, one showing your current address.

Early voting in Chicago

Early voting starts Thursday, January 14, 2027, and ends Monday, February 22. It opens first at the Board's downtown locations; in the last weeks it expands across the city. For the 2023 municipal election the Board opened an early voting site in every one of the 50 wards (Chicago Board of Election Commissioners). Any Chicago voter can use any early voting site. Vote Clock will list the 2027 sites, days and hours here as soon as the Board publishes them.

Vote by mail in Chicago

Any registered voter can vote by mail; no excuse is needed. Apply from November 25, 2026. The Board must receive a mailed application by Thursday, February 18, 2027; in person, apply through February 22. Your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive by Tuesday, March 9, 2027. The Board posts its 2027 drop box locations before early voting.

When is the Chicago mayoral runoff?

Tuesday, April 6, 2027, the same day as Illinois' statewide consolidated election. It happens only in races where no candidate wins more than 50% on February 23. See the Illinois April 6, 2027 election page for its deadlines.

Live in suburban Cook County, not Chicago?

Cook County voters outside Chicago (Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie and other suburbs) vote with the Cook County Clerk. Most suburbs elect mayors, village boards, school boards and park boards on April 6, 2027.

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