Chicago Public Schools headquarters. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

More than half of the 47 candidates running for a seat on Chicago’s elected school board are facing ballot objections challenging their candidacy.

According to the Chicago Board of Elections, 42 challenges have been filed against 27 candidates — some faced multiple objections — mostly alleging the candidates didn’t meet the 1,000-signature threshold to appear on the ballot in November.

Objections were filed against candidates in nine of the 10 school board districts, including all three candidates in the 3rd District, all five candidates in the 7th District and four of the five candidates in the 6th District.

Candidates had to collect more than 1,000 signatures from registered and qualified voters living in their particular board district in order to appear on the election ballot. The vast majority of challenges allege candidates failed to do so and should be removed from the ballot.

This election marks the first for the board since the state legislature approved a plan to shift from a mayoral-appointed board — which had been in place for nearly three decades — to a hybrid one made up of appointed and elected members.

For this year’s election, Chicago will be divided into 10 separate districts, each of which will elect one board member. Mayor Brandon Johnson will also appoint a second member from each district, along with a board president, for a total of 21 elected and appointed board members.

Those members will serve until 2026, when residents will vote once again, this time electing all 21 members for four-year terms.

According to Max Bever, the Board of Elections’ director of public information, hearings are currently being scheduled with the candidates and their objectors and can begin as soon as next week.

“These hearings are overseen by a hearing officer, who can review additional evidence and order records examinations of voter data based on the objection,” Bever said in an emailed statement.

Bever said the hearings are expected to last four to six weeks, after which the hearing officers will present a final recommendation to the Chicago Electoral Board.

“The Commissioners as Electoral Board will meet Fridays in July and moving forward to make final determinations and votes upon the candidate’s (on/off) status on the ballot,” Bever said. “No decision for the ballot is official until the Electoral Board decides it.”

According to Bever, the Board of Elections expects all cases to be decided by the Aug. 29 ballot certification deadline. In some cases, additional time may be needed beyond that deadline, but Bever said all ballots must be finalized by Sept. 26 ahead of early voting.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431