Electoral Changes

Note: Web page information can be translated into more than 100 languages using the Google Translate "select language" tool at the bottom of the page. 

Approved Referendums

In the November 2022 Illinois General Election, Skokie residents approved three citizen-initiated referendums that changed Skokie Village Board elections to non-partisan, staggered terms for elected officials, and established hybrid representation through the creation of four geographic districts represented by one trustee each and two at-large trustee representatives. Currently, all Skokie trustees are elected at-large. Specifically, the referendum questions read as follows: 

  • Shall candidates for mayor, clerk and village trustee in Skokie be elected in nonpartisan primary and general elections beginning on April 1, 2025? 
  • Shall the village also adopt a system of staggered four-year terms and biennial elections for trustees, beginning in 2025? 
  • Shall the village of Skokie adopt a system of hybrid elections in which two of six village trustees are elected at-large, and four of the six are elected from districts, beginning in 2025?

Meetings

Village Board Meeting - Monday, December 4
The second reading of the proposed implementation plan for the three electoral referendums will be presented to the Skokie Village Board of Trustees for adoption at the Village Board Meeting on Monday, December 4, 7:30 p.m., at Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton St. The meeting will be broadcast live on the Village’s YouTube channel as well as on SkokieVision cable television channels 17 (Comcast) and 25 (RCN).

Village Board Meeting - Monday, November 6
The proposed implementation plan for the three electoral referendums was presented to the Skokie Village Board of Trustees at the Village Board Meeting on Monday, November 6.

Electoral Referendums Implementation Public Meeting - Tuesday, October 10
The Village held a third public meeting on Tuesday, October 10 at the Skokie Public Library to provide community members with a proposed implementation plan and district map. 

Districting principles
In developing the proposed map, the Village’s mapping consultant was guided by the following principles considered together:

  • One person, one vote: The districts must be within acceptable deviations from the ideal.
  • Compact and contiguous: A non-compact district is justified when other compelling factors, such as the Voting Rights Act, dictate otherwise.
  • Center the map on an area of shared identity – i.e., join the districts around the center of Skokie. This is reinforced by how Skokie’s services, such as refuse collection and police beats, are divided roughly along north-south, east-west quadrants.
  • Follow major thoroughfares, known boundaries, and other physical or jurisdictional factors that will be understood intuitively by Skokie voters.
  • Communities of interest: Use public testimony or reasonable proxies that describe communities of interest in Skokie.
  • People on one edge of a district should share a sense of community with those on the opposite edge.
  • Observe residential neighborhood contiguities where possible.
  • Avoid isolating communities set apart by the Edens Expressway or large industrial areas.

Proposed map
The Village’s mapping consultant developed the proposed electoral district map incorporating community input received at the August 14 and September 11 public meetings as well as feedback received through written and online comments.

The proposed map, labeled “Forest,” adheres to the districting principles outlined above and maintains a balanced population between districts, while taking into consideration community input received through the Village’s public engagement process.

To improve accessibility and support information sharing, the Village created a short video featuring mapping consultant Peter Creticos summarizing the process and principles considered in developing the proposed map to be presented at the October 10 public meeting. YouTube offers video closed captioning in more than 50 languages. You can also learn more by reading the Village's electoral referendum FAQs.

Summary of Proposal for Implementing Referendums
The following is a summary of the proposal of consulting legal counsel, Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, LTD., and the Village implementation team for implementing the referendums.

Question 1: “Shall candidates for Mayor, Clerk, and Village Trustee of the Village of Skokie be elected at nonpartisan primary and general elections, beginning with the Consolidated Primary and the Consolidated General elections to be held on February 25, 2025 and April 1, 2025, respectively?”

Implementation Proposal: Amend the Village Code to adopt a system of nonpartisan elections in which candidates for Village of Skokie elected office circulate and file nonpartisan nominating papers for the Consolidated Primary Election and Consolidated General Election beginning with the 2025 Consolidated Election schedule, as set forth Sections 3.1-25-20 through 3.1-25-55 of the Illinois Municipal Code. 65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-20 through 65 ILCS 5/3.1-25 55. 

  • A nonpartisan election system prohibits candidates from listing any political party affiliation on their nominating papers and no political party affiliation will be listed on the ballot. 
  • A nonpartisan election system does not prohibit candidates from coordinating their campaigns, fundraising and platforms with other candidates and political parties.

Question 2: “Shall the Village of Skokie adopt a system of staggered four-year terms and biennial elections for Village Trustees, beginning with the Consolidated Primary and the Consolidated General elections to be held on February 25, 2025 and April 1, 2025, respectively?”

Implementation Proposal:

2025
April Election
2027 
April Election
2029
April Election
2-year terms:
4-year terms:
4-year terms
Trustee - District 1
Trustee - District 2
Trustee - District 3
Trustee - District 4
Trustee - District 1
Trustee - District 2
Trustee - District 3
Trustee - District 4
Mayor
Clerk
Trustee At-Large
Trustee At-Large
4-year terms:
Not up for election (next election April 2029)
Not up for election (next election April 2031)
Mayor
Clerk
Trustee At-Large
Trustee At-Large
Mayor
Clerk
Trustee At-Large
Trustee At-Large
Trustee - District 1
Trustee - District 2
Trustee - District 3
Trustee - District 4


Question 3: “Shall the Village of Skokie adopt a system of hybrid elections for Village Trustees, in which two of six Village Trustees are elected at-large and four of six Village Trustees are elected from districts, beginning with the Consolidated Primary and the Consolidated General elections to be held on February 25, 2025 and April 1, 2025, respectively?”

Implementation Proposal: Amend Village Code to create four (4) Trustee Districts with a single Trustee elected from each District, and two at-large Trustee seats. 

Electoral Referendums Implementation Meeting - September 11, 2023
Following an initial community meeting on August 14 and public input, the Village presented draft electoral district maps and a draft referendums implementation plan to the community for feedback at a public meeting on September 11 at the Skokie Public Library. 

Election District Mapping Basics - August 14, 2023
The Village hosted an initial public seminar on August 14 to provide information about the election district mapping process and the laws that govern district mapping, present basic demographic information about Skokie, and gather community members' initial ideas and input. 

Share Your Input and Ideas

Community members are encouraged to review the information above and provide their input on the proposed electoral district map and implementation plan:

FAQs

See answers to frequently asked questions related to district mapping and referendums implementation.

Implementation Timeline

Implementing the referendums is the responsibility of the Village. To ensure that sufficient time is available for residents and candidates to understand the changes before the next Village Board election in April 2025, the Village anticipates implementing electoral changes by year-end 2023.

Below is a timeline for electoral referendums implementation:

  • November 8, 2022 - Skokie residents approved three referendums to change Skokie Village Board elections.
  • December 2022 – January 2023 - Village staff researched and contacted other communities that have implemented similar election actions.
  • February 10, 2023 - The Village issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for election legal services.
  • March – May 2023 - Village staff met with prospective legal services and district mapping consultants to assist with the implementation of the referendums in compliance with state election law.
  • June 5, 2023 - The Village Board approved a contract with Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins (KTJ) to provide legal services and engaged mapping consultant, Peter A. Creticos, Ph.D., who brings more than 40 years of experience in districting and redistricting.
  • August 14, 2023 - At the Skokie Public Library, the Village hosted “Election District Mapping Basics,” a public seminar providing community members an opportunity to hear from the attorneys and mapping consultant regarding the election district mapping and legal process and to share their initial ideas and input.
  • September 11, 2023 - The Village hosted a second public meeting at the Skokie Public Library to present draft district maps and a draft implementation plan for public feedback.
  • October 10, 2023 - The Village hosted a third public meeting at the Skokie Public Library to present a proposed implementation plan and district map.
  • November 6, 2023 - The proposed map and implementation plan will be presented to the Village Board for consideration at the Village Board meeting.
  • December 4, 2023 - The final map and implementation plan are scheduled for adoption by the Village Board.