Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed a millionaire tax as one of Chicago’s three citywide advisory questions. The millionaire-tax question is a separate Cook County question. The three Chicago citywide questions are gunshot detection, a permanent festival/event space, and federal compensation for immigration operations. Chicago Urban Daily News regrets the error.
CHICAGO URBAN DAILY
CHICAGO (CHICAGO URBAN DAILY)— Tuesday’s ballot carries more than candidates. Chicago voters will also answer three advisory questions — and the answers will tell City Hall and Springfield exactly where the city stands.
The three non-binding referendums go before voters on November 3, 2026. They carry no force of law. But in a city fighting over taxes, public safety, and the federal immigration crackdown, they are a barometer no politician can ignore.
Question one: gunshot detection. Voters will weigh whether the city should bring back the technology Mayor Brandon Johnson ended in 2024, when he terminated the ShotSpotter contract. The City Council approved putting the question on the ballot this summer.
Question two: a permanent festival/event space.
Question three: federal compensation for immigration operations. Voters will weigh seeking compensation for the costs of federal immigration policy — with one study cited putting lost revenue for Chicago-area businesses from Operation Midway Blitz at $1.2 billion.
None of these votes change a law on Wednesday morning. All of them change the argument. Watch the margins — they will shape the next legislative session.
Stay tuned to Chicago Urban Daily for Election Day coverage and results.
Reported by Chicago Urban Daily News. Visit chicagourbandailynews.com for updates.
