How Chicagoans answered polarizing ballot questions

Understanding different ballot questions

Cook County has a question in its ballot asking voters if they would support a 3% tax on millionaires that would reduce property taxes and go towards education funding. However, this question is non-binding, and even with overwhelming support, would not automatically become law. It is instead seen as an advisory ballot question. However, in several counties in Illinois, there are binding questions on the ballot. 

CHICAGO – Voters in the city of Chicago gave their input on several advisory referenda on their 2026 election ballots.

The referenda are essentially meant to gauge public opinion, rather than directly affect public policy. 

The questions for Chicago voters were:

1. “Should the City of Chicago restart the use of gunshot detection technology that informs first responders when gunshots are detected?”
2. “Should Chicago develop a permanent festival and outdoor event space for large-scale events?”
3. “Shall the City of Chicago pursue all lawful means to recover financial compensation from the federal government for the costs and economic harm caused by the Donald Trump administration’s violent, militarized ICE operations, including the Midway Blitz operation led by Greg Bovino, to recover lost tax revenue, public safety response costs, and services provided to residents and families affected by those operations?”

Chicago ballot question results

Voters in the Chicago Public Schools district were also asked two advisory referenda:

1. “Shall Illinois use revenue from a surcharge on millionaires to increase funding to public schools?”
2. “Should the City of Chicago require owners of long-term vacant or undeveloped commercial or investment properties to pay an additional annual charge that would support Chicago Public Schools?”

Voters in Cook County were also be asked to weigh in on the so-called “Millionaire’s Tax”:

“Shall Illinois adopt the Millionaire Amendment for Property Tax Relief and Education, which would enact a 3% income tax surcharge only on millionaires and use 50% of this new revenue to provide property tax relief for residential and commercial taxpayers and 50% to improve state funding for public education?”