Fairgrounds and millionaire tax drive Chicago ballot questions

Why it matters: While these are non-binding questions, their answers can help legislators gauge public opinion and decide which laws to pursue.

Zoom in: Here are some questions Cook County voters will find on their ballots, along with more localized questions applied to certain wards, school districts and suburbs.

Gunshot detection

"Should the City of Chicago restart the use of gunshot detection technology that informs first responders when gunshots are detected?"

Context: After long battles with the Chicago City Council, Mayor Brandon Johnson fulfilled his campaign promise to shut down the controversial ShotSpotter program in the fall of 2024, with the promise to seek a better solution.

• Some studies suggested the program led to over-policing and false alarms. But a diverse group of alders from the South, West and far Northwest and Southwest sides urged the mayor to keep it until another program was in place.

The latest: On Oct. 20, after the start of early voting, Johnson's office announced a new pilot program to test an unspecified alternative system in six police districts on the South and West Sides.

Festival space

"Should Chicago develop a permanent festival and outdoor event space for large-scale events?"

Zoom in: Supporters say a dedicated site could reduce the need to close parks, shut down streets, cancel softball games and mess up park grass for private shindigs like Lolla and Riot Fest.

• Critics argue that the current system uses existing city assets while bringing revenue and visitors to areas of the city they might not have otherwise visited.

Blitz compensation

"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?"

By the numbers: One study by UIC's Great Cities Institute suggests Chicago area businesses lost $1.2 billion in revenue during the 2025 immigration crackdown.

Yes, but: It's unclear how the city would secure compensation in a climate that still hasn't seen a single prosecution of an on-duty federal agent for the shooting, killing, beating, tear-gassing and apprehension of locals during Midway Blitz.

Millionaire 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?"

Zoom in: The tax, which would be applied to income over $1 million, could affect about 41,000 Illinois residents and generate $3.8 billion in its first full year, according to a report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and UIUC.

Yes, but: Opponents warn it could drive businesses and revenue out of the state.

What's next: Depending on the support voters show for each issue, lawmakers could use the results to push for binding legislation.