04/13/2026
2026 APA-IL Elections: Notice to Membership & Call for Nominations
Are you a member that is interested in becoming a director serving the APA-IL Board of Directors? How about a position on either the Chicago Metro Section or Illinois State Section Boards? Now is your chance!
The deadline for submitting nominations is May 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.
The nomination period has opened for 2026 APA and Illinois Chapter elections. Per the APA-IL Bylaws approved in October of 2019, Illinois Chapter members are to elect the following officers to the Chapter Board of Directors as well as positions for the two Chapter Sections. Chapter-Only members are eligible to serve as a member of the Board of Directors with the exception of President-Elect or Professional Development Officer. See below for full eligibility requirements.
State Chapter
- President-Elect
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- At-Large Officer
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer
- Professional Development Officer
Chicago Metro Section (APA-CMS)
- Director
- Assistant Director
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Illinois State Section (APA-ISS)
- Director
- Assistant Director
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Training Coordinator
Click here to read full position descriptions.
The deadline for submitting nominations is May 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.
Members can begin submitting their names, headshot, and position statements and desire to run via the American Planning Association's (APA) nomination portal.
Eligibility:
- To be eligible for nomination as President-Elect, a candidate must have completed at least one (1) full two-year term as an elected officer of the APA-IL prior to assuming office on January 1.
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Each candidate shall be a member of the Illinois Chapter, in good standing, for at least twelve (12) months prior to taking office.
- Chapter-Only members are eligible to serve as a member of the Board of Directors with the exception of President-Elect or Professional Development Officer.
- All nominations will be verified by the APA-IL Nominations Committee for membership confirmation and application completeness.
What's Next?
- After the May 8th nomination deadline, verified nominees with a complete application will be emailed to schedule a phone interview with the APA-IL Nominations Committee.
- After phone interviews, a slate of candidates will be determined by the APA-IL Nominations Committee.
- APA election polls will open August 6, 2026 and close September 5, 2026.
- The next term of office will commence on January 1, 2027. Terms run for 2 years with the exception of President Elect. Per the Illinois Chapter bylaws, the President Elect will automatically become President immediately following a one-year term as President Elect. The President will serve a two-year term then immediately serve as Past President for a one-year term.
Nominations Portal
APA's online nominations portal is called DirectNominations. If you have never used the nominations website, you'll need to click on "sign up here" to register. You will be asked to confirm your email address before you can log in. If you have any DirectoNominations questions, email getinvolved@planning.org.
Should you have any questions about this process, please admin@ilapa.org.
APA National members, are you interested in APA Divisions elections?
Leadership positions in the following divisions are on the 2026 ballot: County Planning; Environment, Natural Resources and Energy; Federal Planning; International; Planning and the Black Community; Planning and Law; Regional and Intergovernmental Planning; Small Town and Rural Planning; Transportation Planning; and Urban Design and Preservation. Click here for more information!
Volunteer With an Illinois Chapter Committee!
If you have been considering getting more involved with the Illinois Chapter but not as an elected officer, there are several different committees you can consider joining: Legislative, DEI, Awards, and more. Consider getting involved. It’s a great way to network and give back to the profession! Fill out the APA-IL volunteer form or speak to an Executive Committee member at an upcoming event.