Evanston Voter GuideSpecial election · 2026–27

Sun Oct 18, 2026Mayor Biss’s resignation takes effect
Oct 19–26, 2026Mayoral candidate filing
Mon Oct 26, 2026Council expected to choose acting mayor
Nov 16–23, 2026School & Oakton board filing
Thu Dec 17, 2026Deadline to certify mayoral ballot
Tue Feb 23, 2027Mayoral primary (if needed)
Tue Mar 9, 2027Regular registration closes
Sun Mar 21, 2027Online registration closes
Thu Apr 1, 2027Mail-ballot application due
Tue Apr 6, 2027Election Day

Home / Explainers / 18,911 votes for mayor

Explainer · Published Fri Oct 16, 2026

18,911 votes for mayor

Short answer

In April 2025, 18,911 ballots were cast for Evanston mayor, about 36% of registered voters. [1][2]

Why the number matters in 2027

Petition requirements are based on it. Mayoral candidates need 5% to 8% of the 18,911 ballots cast for mayor in 2025: 946 to 1,513 valid signatures. [1]

On the April 6, 2027 ballot

Mayor, three District 65 board seats, three District 202 board seats and two Oakton College trustee seats. [1][3][4][5]

City of Evanston, City Clerk — 2027 Special Mayoral Election — https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/city_clerks_office/2025_consolidated_elections/index.php · accessed 2026-10-06
Daily Northwestern — Year in review: a look back at Evanston’s tumultuous 2025 (Jan. 6, 2026) — https://dailynorthwestern.com/2026/01/06/city/year-in-review-a-look-back-at-evanstons-tumultuous-2025/ · accessed 2026-10-16
District 65 — Board of Education — https://www.district65.net/about/board-of-education · accessed 2026-10-06
Evanston RoundTable — District 65 and ETHS school board elections (Nov. 19, 2024) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2024/11/19/district-65-eths-school-board-elections/ · accessed 2026-10-06
Oakton College — Board of Trustees board book, August 2026 (Item 8/26-10) — https://www.oakton.edu/_pdfs/board-books/2026/august-2026-board-book.pdf · accessed 2026-10-06

Why the number matters in 2027

On the April 6, 2027 ballot

Sources