What the office does
- Circuit courts can hear nearly every kind of case: criminal, civil, family, probate and traffic. Source: Illinois Constitution, Article VI (The Judiciary).
- A judge must be a U.S. citizen, a licensed Illinois attorney, and a resident of the area that elects them. Source: Illinois Constitution, Article VI (The Judiciary).
- New circuit judges are nominated in party primaries and elected in November for six-year terms. Source: Illinois Constitution, Article VI (The Judiciary).
- At the end of a term, a sitting judge can run for retention: no opponent and no party label, just yes or no. The judge stays only with a yes vote of three-fifths (60%) of those voting. Source: Illinois Constitution, Article VI (The Judiciary).
- Also on the 2026 Logan County ballot are retention questions for three Eleventh Circuit judges and one judge of the Fourth District Appellate Court, which hears appeals from central Illinois circuit courts. Source: Logan County Clerk, certified specimen ballot, Nov. 3, 2026.
Why it matters to a Logan County family
- Court cases from Logan County are heard at the Logan County Courthouse by Eleventh Circuit judges. Source: Circuit Courts Act, 705 ILCS 35; Illinois Constitution, Article VI (The Judiciary).
Our Republican candidate for this office
- Sarah R. Duffy · Circuit Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit
This explainer is written to be neutral and educational. The candidate listed above is the one the Logan County Republicans endorse. How we check our facts
Early voting is open now
Logan County Courthouse, Room 20, 601 Broadway St, Lincoln
- Weekdays through Nov. 2: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- Open late, until 6:30 PM: Tue Sept. 29, Thu Oct. 15 and Mon Nov. 2
- Saturday, Oct. 31: 8:30 AM to noon
- Closed Monday, Oct. 12 (Columbus Day)
Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3: polls are open 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM at your own polling place. Where do I vote?
Hours from the Logan County Clerk's early voting notice. If anything here disagrees with the Clerk, the Clerk is right.