Chicago voters weigh in on gun sensors, festival spaces, and millionaire tax
Advisory referenda in Chicago and Cook County asked residents to approve new fees and government actions.
By Luka Evans ·
Chicago held advisory votes on six questions during its 2026 general election. These ballots did not mandate policy changes but recorded public sentiment on specific local issues.
Residents in the city of Chicago responded to three distinct proposals. One question asked if the city should restart gunshot detection technology that alerts first responders to nearby gunfire. A second proposed the development of a permanent space for large-scale outdoor festivals and events. The third queried if the city should pursue all lawful methods to recover financial compensation from the federal government. This compensation would cover costs and economic harm attributed to the Donald Trump administration's ICE operations, specifically the Midway Blitz led by Greg Bovino. The goal was to recoup lost tax revenue, public safety response costs, and services provided to affected families.
Voters in the Chicago Public Schools district faced two separate inquiries. One asked if Illinois should use revenue from a surcharge on millionaires to boost public school funding. The other asked if the city should impose an additional annual charge on owners of long-term vacant or undeveloped commercial and investment properties to support the school system.
Cook County voters also considered the proposed Millionaire Amendment for Property Tax Relief and Education. This measure would enact a 3% income tax surcharge exclusively on millionaires. The plan allocates 50% of the new revenue toward property tax relief for residential and commercial taxpayers. The remaining 50% would improve state funding for public education. Election results for these items were delivered to The Associated Press.
The ballot language for the federal compensation question explicitly cited the Midway Blitz operation. It listed lost tax revenue, public safety response costs, and services to residents as the specific categories for financial recovery. The school district questions focused on two different revenue streams: a state-level millionaire surcharge and a local property charge for vacant lots.
