---
title: Why is Evanston electing a mayor in 2027?
url: https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/why-special-election/
updated: 2026-10-16
source_policy: every fact carries a numbered source; [n] markers refer to the Sources list
---

[Home](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/) / [Explainers](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/) / Why is there a special election? Explainer · Published Fri Oct 16, 2026

# Why is there a special election?

More explainers

1. [Who serves as Evanston’s mayor until the election?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/acting-mayor/)
2. [Will Evanston have a mayoral primary in February 2027?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/february-primary/)
3. [What does Evanston’s mayor do?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/what-does-the-mayor-do/)
4. [What’s the difference between District 65 and District 202?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/d65-vs-d202/)
5. [Can Skokie residents vote in Evanston’s school board elections?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/skokie-voters-school-boards/)
6. [What is the Oakton College board election?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/oakton-college-board/)
7. [How do I vote by mail in Evanston?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/vote-by-mail/)
8. [How accessible is voting in Evanston?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/accessible-voting/)

[All explainers →](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/)

Short answer

Mayor Daniel Biss’s resignation is effective at 11:59 p.m. on October 18, 2026. Under state law, because more than 28 months remained in his term and the seat opened before candidate filing began, voters fill it at the April 6, 2027 election. [1][2]

## Why only about two years

Biss was re-elected in April 2025 to a four-year term. The person elected in 2027 serves the rest of that term, through May 2029. [1]

## The law behind it

Illinois law fills a vacancy in a four-year city office at the next city election when at least 28 months of the term remain and the vacancy happens before the petition-filing period opens. [2] A 2025 change to the law (P.A. 104-434) moved the trigger from “130 days before the election” to “before the period to file petitions,” which made October 19, 2026 the cutoff. [2][3]

The City Clerk says both conditions are met: the vacancy begins October 18, the day before filing opens on October 19. [1]

Related

- [Will there be a February primary?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/february-primary/)
- [Who serves as mayor until the election?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/acting-mayor/)
- [The mayor’s race](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/)

## Sources

1. City of Evanston, City Clerk — 2027 Special Mayoral Election — https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/city_clerks_office/2025_consolidated_elections/index.php
2. 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50, municipal vacancies (as amended by P.A. 104-434) — https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=006500050K3.1-10-50
3. Evanston RoundTable — When Biss leaves for Washington, what’s next for mayor’s seat (Mar. 26, 2026) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/03/26/when-biss-leaves-for-washington-whats-next-for-mayors-seat/