Of 1,183 regular elections in Illinois—828 (70%) are uncontested. An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. 

Of the 24 states where Ballotpedia is covering every election on Nov. 5, Illinois has the eighth highest rate of uncontested elections. 

There are at least 17 office types up for election in Illinois this year. 

State supreme court justice, treasurer, and assessor have the highest rate of uncontested elections at 100%. Elections for the office of local judge have the next highest uncontested rate at 92%, followed by district attorney at 87%.

Mayor and board of education have the highest rate of contested elections at 100%. The next highest contested office type in Illinois is local councilmember at 63%, followed by U.S. representative and state representative at 56%.

Illinois has a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. Among states with Democratic trifectas, 55% of elections are uncontested and 45% are contested. Those rates for Republican trifectas are 66% and 34%, respectively. In states with a divided government, 56% of elections are uncontested and 44% are contested. 

Through October 2024, Ballotpedia has covered 36,068 elections in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories in 2024 alone. Of that total, 27,164 (75%) were uncontested and 8,904 (25%) were contested. To learn more about this analysis, click here!