Downers Grove residents who want to run for mayor or Village Commissioner in April 2027 can now pick up candidate packets at the Civic Center, and they have nearly three months to collect the 94 signatures required to get on the ballot.
Four seats are up.
The filing period opened Tuesday, July 28, according to a village announcement. One mayor and three commissioners will be elected in the Tuesday, April 6, 2027, Consolidated Election. As we reported July 22, the village had announced the July 28 start date in advance.
What candidates need
Statements of Candidacy and nominating petitions are available from the Village Clerk's office on the second floor of the Civic Center, 850 Curtiss St. Candidates cannot circulate petitions before July 28, the date packets became available.
Each candidate must gather at least 94 valid signatures, equal to 1% of the total votes cast for mayor in the last mayoral election. That threshold shifts slightly each cycle based on turnout: it was 88 for the 2023 election, 95 for 2025, and 94 this time around.
Filing window
Completed paperwork must be filed with the Village Clerk during a narrow window in October:
- Monday, October 19, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Monday, October 26, 2026: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The final day gives candidates an extra 30 minutes past the regular closing time.
What triggers a primary
If more than four candidates file for mayor, or more than 12 file for commissioner, the DuPage County Election Commission will hold a primary election on Tuesday, February 23, 2027. Those thresholds match prior cycles.
If no primary is triggered, the race goes straight to the April 6, 2027, general election.
Next steps
Candidates with questions about election procedures can contact the DuPage County Election Commission at (630) 407-5600. The village announcement notes that candidates should consult their own attorney for questions about election law.
Mayor Bob Barnett's seat is among those on the ballot. The village has not announced whether Barnett intends to seek re-election.
The next key deadline is Monday, October 19, when the formal filing period opens at the Civic Center.
