Cook County, Illinois ballot measures

Location of Cook County in Illinois

2025 Local Ballot Measures
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See also: Local ballot measure elections in 2025

2025

See also: Illinois 2025 local ballot measures

April 1

• Skokie, Illinois, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (April 2025):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) for city elections.

A "no" vote opposed adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) for city elections.

2024

See also: Illinois 2024 local ballot measures

November 5

• Oak Park, Illinois, Ranked-Choice Voting for Village President and Board of Trustees Initiative (November 2024):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) to elect the Oak Park President and Village Board of Trustees.

A "no" vote opposed adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) to elect the Oak Park President and Village Board of Trustees.

March 19

• Chicago, Illinois, Ballot Question 1, Real Estate Transfer Tax Measure (March 2024):  ✖

A "yes" vote supported making the following changes to the city's real estate transfer tax, using the revenue from the increase to address homelessness, including providing permanent affordable housing: For real estate under $1 million, decrease the real estate transfer tax by 20%, so that the new tax is $3 for every $500 of the transfer price; For real estate between $1 million and $1.5 million, increase the real estate transfer tax by 166.67%, so that the new tax is $10 for every $500 of the transfer price; and For real estate over $1.5 million, increase the real estate transfer tax by 300%, so that the new tax is $15 for every $500 of the transfer price.

A "no" opposed making changes to the city real estate transfer tax, maintaining the status quo of a real estate transfer tax of $3.75 per $500.

2022

November 8

See also: Illinois 2022 local ballot measures

• Cook County Forest Preserve District, Illinois, Property Tax Increase Measure (November 2022):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported increasing the district's property tax by an additional 0.025% for the 2022 levy year to provide forest preserve funding.

A "no" vote opposed increasing the district's property tax by an additional 0.025% for the 2022 levy year to provide forest preserve funding.

• Evanston, Illinois, Ranked-Choice Voting Measure (November 2022):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported implementing ranked-choice voting for Evanston municipal offices beginning in April 2025.

A "no" vote opposed implementing ranked-choice voting for Evanston municipal elections, thereby maintaining the existing electoral system.

2020

November 3

See also: November 3, 2020 ballot measures in Illinois

• Chicago, Illinois, Public Question 1, Broadband Access Advisory Vote (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported advising the city to ensure that all the City's community areas have access to broadband Internet.

A "no" vote opposed advising the city to ensure that all the City's community areas have access to broadband Internet.

• Chicago, Illinois, Public Question 2, City Plan Goals Advisory Vote (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported advising the city to "place equal focus on the goals of resiliency, equity, and diversity" while creating its plan for growth and sustainability.

A "no" vote opposed advising the city to "place equal focus on the goals of resiliency, equity, and diversity" while creating its plan for growth and sustainability.

• Chicago, Illinois, Public Question 3, State Firearm Restrictions Advisory Vote (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported advising the state to "restrict the sale or possession of firearms that have been defined as assault weapons or of magazines that can hold more than a certain number of rounds of ammunition."

A "no" vote opposed advising the state to "restrict the sale or possession of firearms that have been defined as assault weapons or of magazines that can hold more than a certain number of rounds of ammunition."

2019

February 26

See also: February 26, 2019 ballot measures in Illinois

• Rent Control Referendum: Chicago (Certain Precincts) Rent Control Advisory Question a
• Obama Center Referendum: Chicago (Certain Precincts) Affordable Housing, Property Tax Freeze, and Local Jobs Advisory Question a
• Marijuana Tax Revenue Allocation Referendum: Chicago (Certain Precincts) Marijuana Tax Revenue Allocation Advisory Question a
• El Paseo Trail Referendum: Chicago (Certain Precincts) Affordable Housing, Property Tax Freeze, and Local Jobs Advisory Question a

2018

November 6

See also: November 6, 2018 ballot measures in Illinois

• Chicago Plastic Straws Ban a
• Chicago Property Tax Exemption a
• Chicago Marijuana Revenue a
• Cook County Minimum Wage a
• Cook County Earned Sick Time for Workers a
• Cook County Firearms Measure a

March 20

See also: March 20, 2018 ballot measures in Illinois

• Cook County Marijuana Legalization Advisory Question a

A yes vote was a vote in favor of advising the state of Illinois to legalize commercial production and adult use of recreational marijuana.

A no vote was a vote against advising the state of Illinois to legalize commercial production and adult use of recreational marijuana.

• Chicago, Illinois, Preserve Affordable Care Act Advisory Question a

A yes vote was a vote in favor of advising that Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) to support legislation preserving the benefits provided through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—which is commonly known as Obamacare—and to encourage more people to sign up for benefits through the ACA.

A no vote was a vote against advising that Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) to support legislation preserving the benefits provided through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—which is commonly known as Obamacare—and to encourage more people to sign up for benefits through the ACA.

• Chicago, Illinois, Firearm Bump Stock Ban Advisory Question a

A yes vote was a vote in favor of advising Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) to support legislation to ban bump stocks for guns and increase penalties for those who sell guns illegally.

A no vote was a vote against advising Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) to support legislation to ban bump stocks for guns and increase penalties for those who sell guns illegally.

• Chicago, Illinois, Address Opioid and Heroin Use Advisory Question a

A yes vote was a vote in favor of advising the state to establish a strategy to address increased opioid and heroin use and deaths due to use. It specifically advised in favor of allocating funds for addiction treatment, requiring insurance providers to cover opioid alternatives, and limiting prescription length

A no vote was a vote against advising the state to establish a strategy to address increased opioid and heroin use and deaths due to use.

2016

November 8

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2016)

• Merge Offices: Cook County a
• Earned Sick Time: Cook County a
• Firearms Measure: Chicago a
• School funding measure: Chicago a
• Infrastructure investment measure: Chicago a
• Retail Sale of Alcohol Ban Continuation: Chicago d
• Affordable Housing Construction: Chicago a
• Creation of West Side Expanded Mental Health Services Program: Chicago a
• Expansion of Charter Schools Measure: Chicago d
• Freeze of Charter Schools Measure: Chicago a

2015

February 24

See also: February 24, 2015 ballot measures in Illinois

a Chicago "Fair Elections" Campaign Finance Advisory Question
a Chicago Paid Sick Time Advisory Question
a Chicago Domestic Abuse Advisory Question

2014

March 18

See also: March 18, 2014 ballot measures in Illinois

a City of Chicago $15 Per Hour Minimum Wage Referendum (March 2014)

2013

February 26

See also: February 26, 2013 ballot measures in Illinois

d Golf Elementary School District 67 Tax Levy Increase Question (February 2013)

2012

November 6

See also: November 6, 2012 ballot measures in Illinois

d Village of Alsip Electric Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Alsip Motor Vehicle Stickers Question and Electric Utility Tax (November 2012)
d City of Blue Island Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a City of Calumet City Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a City of Chicago Heights Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a City of Country Club Hills Number of Alderman Question (November 2012)
a Village of Dolton Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Elmwood Park Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Elmwood Park Natural Gas Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Elmwood Park Speed Cameras Question (November 2012)
a City of Evanston Political Contributions Question (November 2012)
a Village of Flossmoor General Obligation Bonds Measure (November 2012)
a Village of Glencoe General Obligation Bonds Measure (November 2012)
a Glenview Village Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Village of Hazel Crest Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Village of Hillside Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Village of Indian Head Park Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Indian Head Park Tax Extension Increase Measure (November 2012)
a Village of Inverness Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Kenilworth Home Rule Measure (November 2012)
a Village of La Grange Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Lynwood Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Maywood Revoke Home Rule Measure (November 2012)
a Village of Melrose Park Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Village of North Riverside Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Village of Northfield Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Village of Oak Lawn Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d River Forest Village Home Rule Question (November 2012)
d Rolling Meadows City Garbage Collection Question (November 2012)
a Village of Rosemont Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Village of Schaumburg Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Village of Stickney, Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
d Village of Summit 9-1-1 Surcharge Measure (November 2012)
a Tinley Park Term Limits Question (November 2012)
a Village of Westchester Retailer Occupation Tax Measure (November 2012)
a Village of Worth Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Town of Cicero Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
a Northfield Township Citizens United Referendum (November 2012)
a Oak Park Township Amend Constitution (November 2012)
a Oak Park Township Natural Gas Measure (November 2012)
d Arlington Heights Park District Bond Measure (November 2012)
a Hodgkins Park District Issue Bonds Measure (November 2012)
a Oak Brook Park District Term of Office Measure (November 2012) (also in DuPage County)
ad Oak Brook Park District Number of Commissioners Measure (November 2012) (also in DuPage County)
a Stickney Township Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)

• Thornton Township Electrical Aggregation Question (November 2012)
  

a Broadview Public Library District Issue Bonds Measure (November 2012)
a School District 67 Issue Bonds Measure (November 2012)
d School District 67 Tax Extension Increase Measure (November 2012)
a School District 167 Issue Bonds Measure (November 2012)
a School District 169 Issue Bonds Measure (November 2012)
a East Dundee and Countryside Fire P District Issue bonds Measure (November 2012) (also in Kane County)
d Old Town Sanitary District Tax Extension Increase Measure (November 2012)

March 20

See also: March 20, 2012 ballot measures in Illinois

d Arlington Heights Village Parks Bond Measure (March 2012) (also in Lake County)
a Arlington Heights Village Electrical Aggregation Question (March 2012) (also in Lake County)
d Barrington Hills Village Electrical Aggregation Question (March 2012) (also in Lake, Kane & McHenry Counties)
a East Dundee Village Electrical Aggregation Question (March 2012) (also in Kane County)
a Lemont Village Electrical Aggregation Question (March 2012) (also in DuPage & Will Counties)
a Thornton & La Grange Park Village Electrical Aggregation Questions, 2 (March 2012)
a Northbrook Village Electrical Aggregation Question (March 2012)
a Morton Grove Village Electrical Aggregation Question (March 2012)
a Elmhurst City Electrical Aggregation Question (March 2012) (also in DuPage County)
a Park Ridge City Electrical Aggregation Question (March 2012)
ad City & Village Electrical Aggregation Questions, 57 (March 201)
a Evanston Township Non-Binding Dissolution Question (March 2012)
a Ford Heights Village Park District Creation (March 2012)
d Indian Head Park Village Tax Extension Increase (March 2012)
d Indian Head Park Village Police & Street Increases, 2 (March 2012)
d Lincolnwood Village Appointed Clerk Question (March 2012)
d Lynwood & Merrionette Village & Prospect Heights City Home Rule Questions, 3 (March 2012)
d Matteson & Olympia Village 911 Emergency Surcharge Additions, 2 (March 2012)
d Park Forest & Richton Park Village 911 Emergency Surcharge Additions, 2 (March 2012)
a Sauk Village Water Change Referendum (March 2012)
a Westchester Village Sales Tax Implementation (March 2012)
d Winnetka Village Affordable Housing Questions, 2 (March 2012)
d Stickney Township Road District Dissolution (March 2012)
d Worth Park District Debt Repayment Increase Question (March 2012)
d Richton Park Library District Levy Increase (March 2012)
a Richton Park Library District Bond Measure (March 2012)
a Palos Fire District Levy Increase (March 2012)
a Gower School District Bond Measure (March 2012) (also in DuPage County)
d Golf School District 67 Bond Measure (March 2012)
d Golf School District 67 Levy Increase (March 2012)
d Lincolnwood School District 74 Bond Measure (March 2012)
a West Northfield School District Levy Increase (March 2012)
d Evanston/Skokie School District Bond Measure (March 2012)
d Sandridge School District Bond Measure (March 2012)

2011

April 5

See also: April 5, 2011 ballot measures in Illinois

Referendum questions misstate true cost of passage, official charges

d Prospect Heights City Sales Tax Increase (April 2011)
d Prospect Heights City Police Bond Measure (April 2011)
a Worth Village Sales Tax Implementation (April 2011)
a Harvey Library District Bond Measure (April 2011)
a Indian Trails Library District Levy Increase (April 2011) (also in Lake County)
a Hinsdale Village Clerk Appointment Question (April 2011) (also in DuPage County)
a Cicero Town Block Party Questions, 2 (April 2011)
a Maywood Village Government Question (April 2011)
d Palos Heights Fire District Levy Increase (April 2011)
a Oak Park Electricity Aggregation Question (April 2011)
a Lincolnwood, Oak Brook & Glenwood Village Electricity Aggregation Questions, 3 (April 2011)
d Lan Oak Park District Levy Increase (April 2011)
d Markham Park District Dissolution Question (April 2011)
d Olympia Fields Park District Levy Increase (April 2011)
d Western Springs Park District Bond Measure (April 2011)
d Riverside-Brookfield School District Levy Increase (April 2011)
d Lemont-Bromberek School District Bond Measure (April 2011) (also in Will and DuPage Counties)
d Prospect Heights School District 23 Levy Increase (April 2011)
a Oak Park School District 97 Levy Increase (April 2011)
a Wilmette School District 39 Levy Increase (April 2011)
d Arbor Park School District Levy Increase (April 2011)
a Homewood School District Bond Measure (April 2011) (#153)
d West Northfield School District Levy Increase (April 2011)

February 22

See also: February 22, 2011 ballot measures in Illinois

a Chicago Ward 3 Alcohol Policy Questions, 4 (February 2011)

2010

November 2

See also: November 2, 2010 ballot measures in Illinois

d Palatine School District 15 Bond Measure (November 2010)
d Lemont-Bromberek School District 113 Bond Measure (November 2010)
d Wheeling Village 911 Fee Increase (November 2010)(also in Lake County)
d Franklin Park Home Rule Question (November 2010)
a Northfield Village Home Rule Question (November 2010)
d Park Ridge Noise Abatement Referendum (November 2010)

For the entire November ballot in the county see: Cook November Proposal List

February 2

See also: February 2, 2010 ballot measures in Illinois

a Mt. Prospect Voting Change Referendum (February 2010)
d Mokena Fire Protection District Annexation (February 2010)
a Frankfort and Forest Park District Property Tax Increases (February 2010)
da Lemont-Bromberek and Sunnybrook School Districts Property Tax Increase (February 2010)
d Village of Palos Park Property Tax Increase (February 2010)
d Village of Wheeling Emergency Service Charge Increase (February 2010)
d Midlothian and River Forest Park Districts Bond Measures (February 2010)
d New Trier Township Highschool District Bond Measure (February 2010)
ad Village of Midlothian and City of Hometown Home Rule Government (February 2010)
a Elmhurst Community School District Classroom Use (February 2010)
a Village of Barrington Pension Reform Advisory Question (February 2010)
a Village of Winnetka Streetscape Proposal Advisory Question (February 2010)

2009

April 7

See also: April 7, 2009 ballot measures in Illinois

a Avoca School District tax increase referendum, 2009
a Elgin Community College bond issue referendum, 2009
d Park Ridge Police Station Vote (2009)

Not on Ballot

Millburn School District 24 Levy Increase (November 2010)
Schaumburg Township Library Levy Increase (April 2011)

External links

Ballotpedia has an article on:

Cook County

• Cook County official website