The 2024 general election may be sneaking up on you — the last day for eligible voters to cast their ballot is less than two weeks away on Tuesday, November 5th. This year, voters will have the chance to elect a number of public officials including state senators, judges, and, of course, the next president of the United States.
While most eyes are on the intense presidential election, there are a number of local issues worth diving into on the Chicago ballot. Whether decided on the presidential candidate or not, voters everywhere should still be well-informed about the local policies and representatives at stake.
Early voting for the 2024 General Election is already underway and eligible voters can register to vote in person up to and on Election Day, which is November 5th.
From school board candidates to advisory questions that showcase public preferences to statewide elections, here’s what you should know about your 2024 Illinois General Election ballot.
Expect something called an “advisory question”
Voters can expect to see three advisory questions on this year’s ballot.
Non-binding advisory questions are inquiries on local ballots that allow government officials to understand public preference on a wide range of issues. Representatives and lawmakers use responses from advisory questions to inform future legislation. However, the result of advisory questions does not enact or reject any policy directly.
The last advisory questions were included on the ballot in 2014. Respondents then voted in favor of a state minimum wage increase to $10, birth control inclusion in prescription drug healthcare coverage, and a 3% tax increase on incomes $1 million or more for school district revenue.
What are the three advisory questions on the 2024 ballot?
The three issues addressed in the 2024 Illinois ballot advisory questions are assisted reproductive healthcare, income tax, and penalties for public office candidate interference.
- The Assisted Reproductive Health Referendum: “Should all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization, be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy benefits, without limitation on the number of treatments?”
What does this mean? If legislation is passed as a result of this advisory question, in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments would be required in health insurance plans that provide pregnancy benefits in Illinois.
2. The Property Tax Relief and Fairness Referendum: “Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief?”
What does this mean? Similar to the advisory question in 2014, the Income Tax Advisory question this year would create an additional 3% surcharge on incomes of one million dollars or more and shift those funds to assist with property tax relief. Former Governor Pat Quinn has joined the “Vote Yes” campaign for the Income Tax Advisory question, arguing the surcharge would lead to $4.5 billion in state revenue.
3. The Election Worker Protection Referendum: “Should any candidate appearing on the Illinois ballot for federal, State, or local office be subject to civil penalties if the candidate interferes or attempts to interfere with an election worker’s official duties?”
What does this mean? If voters support this advisory question, lawmakers could implement stronger penalties against candidates. Failing to follow orders from an election official is already qualified as a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois, but legislation for stronger charges could be introduced for election interference.
Selecting the right Cook County State’s Attorney is crucial
As one of the most influential positions in state criminal justice, Cook County voters should be following the State’s Attorney race very closely. State’s Attorneys have the power to influence police accountability, mass incarceration policy, cash bail, and proposed state laws.
After incumbent Kim Foxx’s April 2023 announcement that she would not seek reelection in, the scramble in the race for Cook County State’s Attorney began. In the Democratic primaries in March 2024, former Illinois Appellate Judge Eileen O’Neill Burke narrowly clinched victory from opponent Clayton Harris III, winning by less than 1,600 votes.
Now, Burke will face Republican Bob Fioretti, former alderman of the 2nd Ward who ran as a Democrat in a failed bid to unseat then-incumbent Foxx in 2020. Fioretti’s party switch hopes to inspire other voters who feel disillusioned by the Democratic Party and Kim Foxx.
The Republican has also gained the endorsement from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who himself urged Black voters to vote for Fioretti in a statement earlier this month. Burke, whose experience as a prosecutor is marred by the prosecution of a Black boy who was later exonerated for the murder of an elderly white woman in 1994, has struggled to gain support from predominantly-Black wards.
Libertarian candidate Andrew Charles Kopinski will also appear on the ballot. Kopinski touts his status as a political outsider as a major strength of his campaign.
Burke said her primary focus would be prosecuting gun crimes, especially those in possession of illegal “switches” that transform handguns into automatic weapons, according to Block Club Chicago. Additionally, Burke plans to create the office’s first “choice protection unit” that is “dedicated to enforcing the laws which protect women’s access to abortion services and reproductive healthcare.”
Fioretti, originally a civil rights attorney, plans to prioritize the prosecution of “violent illegal alien criminals,” even committing to cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to do so. Aligned with Burke, Fioretti also plans to focus on prosecuting gun crime offenders and investigating wrongful convictions, according to Block Club Chicago.
Chicago School Board Elections
For the first time, Chicago voters will be able to elect the city’s school board.
Since 1995, Chicago mayors have maintained massive control over the city’s school district by appointing board members and CPS’ executive officers, as well as deciding on school facility reconstruction and negotiating teacher union contracts.
Under current doctrine the Chicago Board of Education that runs Chicago Public Schools has seven members. The most recent members were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. However, the entire school board resigned in early October over clashes regarding the mayor and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. Interim board members were sworn in on October 24th. The school board positions are unpaid.
The new elected school board will expand to 21 members — 11 appointed by the mayor and 10 elected from each of the city’s school districts. By 2027, the board is expected to be comprised solely of elected representatives, according to ChalkBeat Chicago.
The school board typically meets twice monthly to vote on decisions regarding the school system’s finances and policies. Parents, students, and advocates can also attend public meetings to speak directly with their elected representative.
Chicagoans can learn more about their respective school districts and each candidate via the Chicago Sun-Times’ candidate questionnaire and voting guide.
Circuit Judges
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of circuit judges on the ballot every election. But before you skip over those sections, know that these circuit positions could end up ascending the ranks to Supreme Court justices of the future. For assistance navigating the local judges on the ballot, check out Injustice Watch’s voting guide. Bringing the printed guide into the voting booth is permissible, however notes can not be shared between voters.
Illinois Supreme Court Justices
State Supreme Court Justices are responsible for determining the constitutionality of statewide legislation, including laws pertaining to reproductive rights and anti-discrimination.
This election, there is only one justice running for the 1st district that encompasses Cook County. Justice Joy Cunningham is seeking election for a 10-year term as Illinois Supreme Court Justice. Cunningham was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2022 to replace retiring Justice Ann Burke. Visit IllinoisCourts.gov to learn more about Illinois’ Supreme Court members.
There are plenty of other community-specific elections worth researching, including campaigns for United States representatives and state senators. For more information on voter eligibility, sample ballots, and polling locations, visit ChicagoElections.gov.
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