What to know about this Illinois election season

Early voting and vote by mail began Sept. 24 across Illinois. The election is about more than just what is at the top of the ticket.

Among the choices for voters this year are a Cook County nonbinding advisory tax question and Chicago’s first fully elected school board — races that will affect schools, taxes, spending and the business environment long after Election Day.

Those aren’t the only ones. Often, the most important elections aren’t partisan races.

Illinoisans shouldn’t miss their chance to express their views. Take the opportunity to vote — even before Election Day arrives Nov. 3.

Here are a few things to know this election season:

Cook County’s nonbinding ‘millionaires tax’ question

Cook County voters will see an advisory question asking whether Illinois should enact a 3% income tax surcharge on individual income above $1 million.

Under the proposal described in the question, half the resulting revenue would go toward property tax relief for residential and commercial taxpayers and the other half would go toward public education.

The Cook County Board approved the question as a nonbinding referendum intended to gauge public opinion. The result cannot change Illinois tax law, but that doesn’t mean voters should overlook the question.

A tax of this kind could be considered a tax on small businesses, as the 3% surcharge could also apply to business income — not just wages and investment gains. That could affect how some business owners weigh hiring, expansion and investment in Illinois.

Notably, for state lawmakers to take the next step and enact such a tax, they would need to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. The amendment then needs approval from 60% of those voting on the question or a majority of all voters who cast ballots in the election. Illinois voters rejected a similar proposal in 2020 that would have amended the state constitution to allow a progressive income tax, with higher rates for higher levels of income.

Chicago’s school board elections

Chicago voters have a consequential set of choices further down their ballots.

All 21 seats on the Chicago Board of Education will be elected for the first time in November: 20 members from school board subdistricts and a board president elected citywide. The new members’ terms begin in January.

School board races may not get the attention of statewide or congressional contests, but board members make decisions for Chicago Public Schools and taxpayers. The board sets its property tax levy, establishes the district’s budget and approves contracts with groups such as the Chicago Teachers Union.

Higher budgets and property tax levies can increase costs for homeowners, landlords and businesses throughout Chicago.

This race could serve as a proxy for how voters see Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the CTU.

Early voting and vote by mail is the same as voting on Election Day

It’s easy for bad weather, illness or a last-minute work shift to get in the way of voting on Election Day, so it’s important for voters to have backup plans. Especially because many recent local Illinois elections have been decided by just a few hundred — or dozen — votes.

Early voting occurs through Nov. 2 at election authority offices across Illinois, with locations and hours varying by jurisdiction. Vote-by-mail ballots can be requested until Oct. 29. Most jurisdictions offer opportunities to sign up for permanent vote by mail, which means the ballot for every election would arrive at a registered voter’s home.

Mail-in ballots offer one of the simplest ways to guarantee voter participation. As a way of additionally securing your vote, ballots can be brought in and exchanged to vote in person at election authority offices.

“Votes are counted the same way whether they’re received in person or by mail,” says Will County Clerk Annette Parker.

“Ballots are given to our early-voting department, they scan them the same as they would with the ballots from the drop box, then we have poll watchers who witness the signatures,” she said.

Early voting gives Illinoisans weeks to learn what is on their ballots and figure out the best way of casting a vote.

Ultimately, the most important thing for voters is participating — not how you participate. Every single race matters.

Matt Paprocki is the president and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute.