What to know about Illinois' fall ballot measures
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Beyond the big political races, Illinois voters will weigh in on three ballot measures about property taxes, reproductive treatments and election interference this fall.
Why it matters: One-sentence ballot questions don't offer a ton of context, leaving some voters feeling underprepared to answer.
- So we're here to help.
Reality check: As "advisory" referenda, none of these measures carry official power.
- But they do gauge public opinion and could bolster future law-making efforts.
- A successful 2016 ballot question about boosting Illinois' minimum wage helped make it law by 2019.
State of play: As of Friday, 10,119 Chicagoans had cast early ballots in person, and 40,523 had returned vote-by-mail ballots, for a grand total of 50,642.
- Those numbers are expected to balloon this week, with 50 more sites opening today, one in each ward.
The property tax question, sponsored by former Gov. Pat Quinn, asks if the state should impose an additional 3% tax on income over $1 million to help lower property taxes.
Context: With protests over rising Cook County property taxes and more possible hikes on the horizon to plug a $1 billion 2025 city deficit, this could prove a popular suggestion.
- Yes, but: It carries echoes of the state's failed 2020 graduated tax referendum and the city's recent unsuccessful "Bring Chicago Home" ballot question aimed at raising taxes on high-end real estate transactions.
The in vitro fertilization question asks if health insurance plans that provide full coverage for pregnancy benefits should also cover IVF and other medically assisted reproductive treatments.
Context: IVF became a big campaign issue after challenges to the treatments in Alabama in the wake of the Dobbs decision.
- It's not a clear-cut partisan issue, with former President Trump making campaign promises to make IVF treatments free.
The election interference measure asks if Illinois should impose civil penalties on candidates who interfere or try to interfere with election workers' official duties.
Context: The question emerges against the backdrop of continuing legal action against Trump and his associates for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election.
The intrigue: While supporters of the referenda see them as useful opinion gauges, some Republicans say the spicy issues are being used as bait to lure more Democrats to the polls and ensure no other questions can squeeze onto the three-question-max ballot.
- "These are questions that were designed for political effect," Republican state Rep. Ryan Spain of Peoria, tells the Tribune.
What's next: If you prefer answering your ballot questions at home, remember that Halloween is the last day to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot. Don't get tricked.