Illinois Judicial Elections: How they work, and how to see if judges are qualified – NBC 5 Chicago

Illinois Judicial Elections: How they work, and how to see if judges are qualified  NBC 5 Chicago

Voting for judges on your ballot can be a bit of a challenge, but here are some helpful tips as the Illinois Election approaches Voting for judges on your ballot can be a bit of a challenge, but here are some helpful tips as the Illinois Election approaches. The 2026 midterm election is rapidly approaching, and while there are dozens of big races on the ballot, many voters may be mystified by the process of electing judges. In Illinois, there are three different levels of courts where judges are put before the voters, either in contested races to determine which judges will be selected to serve and in retention votes, which are taken after either six or 10 years, depending on the court in question.

So how does the system work? How do voters find out if judges are recommended or not? And where can voters find information on which judges they’ll vote for? In the state of Illinois, there are three types of judges that are ultimately elected, and voted upon, by state voters. At the top of the chart are the five justices of the Illinois Supreme Court, who are elected to 10-year terms and then subject to retention votes every 10 years. The next level down are the five districts of the state’s Appellate Court, with judges