[10] In the initial review of the petitions by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners on December 6, 2010, three candidates, Ryan Graves, M. Tricia Lee, and Jay Stone, were removed from the ballot for submitting insufficient numbers of signatures or duplicate signatures, although they had the right to seek reconsideration of the decision.

[14] State Senator James Meeks ended his bid on December 23, 2010, the deadline for candidates to not appear on the ballot.

[15] Danny K. Davis, U.S. Representative from Illinois's 7th district, withdrew on December 31, 2010, to support Carol Moseley Braun, in an attempt to unite voters behind a single major African American candidate.

[16] Assemblies of God congregation leader Wilfredo De Jesús dropped out of the race on January 7, 2011, and endorsed Gery Chico.

[17] Real estate broker John Hu was removed from the ballot by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners on December 29, 2010.

Emanuel's eligibility had been previously confirmed by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and a judge of Cook County.