ILCS » Chapter 10 · Act 5
Illinois Compiled Statutes

10 ILCS 5/7-10.2 (2026)

In the designation of the name of a candidate on a petition for nomination or certificate of nomination the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof, may be used in addition to the candidate's surname

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section IL-ILGAilga.gov JustiaChapter on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(10 ILCS 5/7-10.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 7-10.2)
    Sec. 7-10.2. In the designation of the name of a candidate on a petition for nomination or certificate of nomination the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof, may be used in addition to the candidate's surname. If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition or certificate for that office, whichever is applicable, then (i) the candidate's name on the petition or certificate must be followed by "formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)" and (ii) the petition or certificate must be accompanied by the candidate's affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the period specified in (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate's name for the ballot or removing the candidate's name from the ballot, as appropriate, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's or parents' surname, marriage or civil union to assume a spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or civil union or declaration of invalidity of marriage or civil union to assume a former surname or a name change that conforms the candidate's name to his or her gender identity. No other designation such as a political slogan, as defined by Section 7-17, title or degree, or nickname suggesting or implying possession of a title, degree or professional status, or similar information may be used in connection with the candidate's surname.
(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2018–2025 · leading case: Hacker v. Halley, 2021 IL App (2d) 210050 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Hacker v. Halley, 2021 IL App (2d) 210050 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). “1 of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/7-10.2, 10-1, 10-5, 10-5.1 (West 2020)) but not section 45-20 of the Township Code (60 ILCS 1/45- 20 (West 2020)).”
Oberholtzer v. Cook Cnty. Officers Electoral Bd., 2020 IL App (1st) 200218-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). · cites it 6× “2 of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/7-10.2 (West 2018)) by failing to disclose on her nomination papers that she had changed her name.”
Shannon-DiCianni v. Du Page Cnty. Officers Electoral Bd., 2020 IL App (2d) 200027 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 3× “” 10 ILCS 5/7-10.2 (West 2018). According to the Board, this statute allows a candidate to use a nickname in combination with, or in lieu of, her given and middle names.”
McDonald v. Cook Cnty. Officers Electoral Bd., 2018 IL App (1st) 180406 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “2 of the Election Code ( 10 ILCS 5/7-10.2 (West 2016) ) by failing to state on her petition sheets that she was formerly known simply as Jan Kowalski, during a period of time following her December 2010 divorce; and (2) that Ms.”
Rice v. Cook Cnty. Officers Electoral Bd., 2024 IL App (1st) 240230-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). · cites it 3× “2 of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/7-10.2 (West 2022)), by failing to include “formerly known as Akiwowo” on her nomination papers.”
Knight v. Kurzawa, 2024 IL App (1st) 240231-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). · cites it 3× “2 (West 2022)) states “[i]n the designation of the name of a candidate on a petition for nomination or certificate of nomination the candidate’s given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof, may be used…”
Williams v. Mun. Officers Electoral Bd. for the Vill. of Hazel Crest, 2025 IL App (1st) 242534-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). “10 ILCS 5/7-10.2 (West 2022). ¶4 On November 8 and 21, 2024, the Board held a hearing on the objections to petitioner’s nomination papers.”
Williams v. Mun. Officers Electoral Bd. for Hazel Crest, 2025 IL App (1st) 242534 (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). “See 10 ILCS 5/7-10.2 (West 2022). ¶3 On November 8 and 21, 2024, the Board held a hearing on the objections to petitioner’s nomination papers.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.