Election Law

Whether you are a local government working on issues related to the elections or a candidate running for public office, we focus on the legal technicalities so you can focus on the issues.

Ancel Glink’s election attorneys provide advice to local governments, candidates, politicians and political parties on all aspects of election law. Our representation includes advising on issues related to ballot access, preparing and reviewing nomination papers, assisting with campaign finance disclosures, objections, electoral boards, local election officials, election contests and recounts, campaign ethics. We have also served as hearing officers on election matters. As leaders in this field, we regularly provide training to governmental attorneys and governmental clerks on their roles related to elections.

Our attorneys are also well versed in advising local governments about election-related issues, including how to successfully pass governmental referenda and those unique issues that crop up at election time. (Hey! Can someone circulate petitions in our public building? Can we remove campaign signs from our rights-of-way?

We represent candidates for local governmental offices, including municipal, park district, township, school districts, library boards and community colleges, state and federal offices, as well as judicial candidates and candidates for special districts. We also represent political parties, political organizations, political action committees, and referendum committees.

Our attorneys prepare nomination papers and petitions, assess potential challenges to opponents, review nomination paperwork, provide advice regarding campaign finance disclosure obligations, and create political action committees. We appear before electoral boards and serve as public members on electoral boards when appointed by chief judges of the court. Our attorneys also hold or have held elected political office, including State, county, municipal, library, park district, and township offices.

Ancel Glink defends candidates whose nomination papers are challenged before electoral boards. We also represent objectors challenging candidates who have filed deficient nomination papers. Our attorneys frequently represent and advise electoral boards in all aspects of their proceedings. We also represent parties before the Illinois State Board of Elections related to campaign finance issues.

In addition, we represent the Municipal Clerks of Illinois, as well as municipal clerks, township clerks, school board secretaries and park district secretaries in their important roles as local election officials.

Ballot Access

Our election attorneys can assist you with all the legal requirements to get on the ballot. We can help you with your petitions, your statement of economic interests, and other campaign paperwork. We can help you form a political committee or party, word or advance your referendum, and help you with campaign finance forms. Leave the paperwork up to us so you can concentrate on the issues.

Local Government Election Issues

In the course of advising public bodies, we also advise them about the issues that arise during election season, such as about the regulation, placement and removal of campaign signs, issues related to certification of the ballot, and designation of public buildings as polling places. We also advise public bodies about the establishment of compensation for elected officials, compliance with ethics laws, including the Public Officers Prohibited Activities Act, and the Governmental Ethics Act. We have taught classes on how to fill out statements of economic interests. We also assist local governments with transitions between administrations and teach newly-elected officials classes.

Referenda

Are you attempting to pass a referendum? We can assist you. Our attorneys have taught classes on how to pass successful referenda, and we have worked with several public bodies on successful referenda campaigns. We can also connect you with our network of consultants who handle non-legal components of referenda campaigns.

Running for office?

You cannot win an election if you are not on the ballot! There are several different nomination papers you need to file. These documents must be precise, prepared and filled out correctly and they must all be filed in the correct offices at the correct time. We can help prepare your petitions, train your circulators, and help evaluate your opponent’s materials. Don’t let them knock you off the ballot for a technical defect! In addition to advising local government candidates, we advise judges, appellate court justices and judicial candidates on compliance with all aspects of their campaigns and compliance with fundraising.

Nomination Papers

Petitions must be precise, documents must be prepared and filled out correctly and they must all be filed in the correct offices at the correct time. We can help prepare your petitions, train your circulators and help evaluate your opponent’s materials. Don’t let them knock you off the ballot for a technical defect.

Campaign Finance Disclosures

Our attorneys can assist you in understanding your reporting obligations and the complicated guidelines for raising and expending campaign funds properly, and related rules.

Objections

We can help you defend your case to keep you on the ballot. On the other hand, if your opponent has filed defective paperwork, we can help you preserve the integrity of the electoral process by filing an objection to challenge their candidacy. Our attorneys have handled hundreds of these types of cases and we would be happy to assist you in bringing or defending an objector’s petition.

Electoral Boards

There are many special rules that must be followed and precise timelines to meet when an objection is filed. We can assist your clerk or secretary in convening an electoral board meeting, and we can assist your electoral board meetings with the conduct of the hearing. Please call us right away if we can help you with this process. Time is of the essence.

Local Election Officials

We can assist with early voting issues, ballot certification questions, procedures for convening an electoral board, and other related election issues.

Election Contests and Recounts

Did you lose by 3 votes? Our attorneys can evaluate whether an election contest is feasible, and we can assist you in pursuing or defending an election recount case.

Campaign Ethics

Do you understand all of the ethical rules that apply to your campaign? Ancel Glink attorneys can help you avoid an ethics complaint, or we can help you defend one if someone files one against you.

Hearing Officers

At times, electoral boards prefer to designate a hearing officer to handle technical aspects of the electoral board hearings, such as ruling on evidentiary issues, etc. Our attorneys have served on and advised a significant number of electoral boards.

Political Parties

Our attorneys represented political parties and committee men’s organizations in drafting bylaws, interpreting bylaws, regarding vacancies and voting issues, at conventions and caucuses, and in litigation. Let us help you unite your organization.

Our Recent Case Studies

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