Cook County — Millionaire Tax Amendment

What it does

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?

A YES vote means

Supports Illinois adopting the Millionaire Amendment: a 3% income tax surcharge only on millionaires, with 50% of the new revenue for residential and commercial property tax relief and 50% for state funding of public education.

A NO vote means

Does not support Illinois adopting the Millionaire Amendment's 3% income tax surcharge on millionaires.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

This is an advisory referendum: the Cook County Board of Commissioners placed it on the ballot under 55 ILCS 5/5-1005.5, which lets a county board ask voters an advisory question of public policy, and the resolution says the results will constitute the opinion of county residents.

On July 16, 2026, the board approved the resolution 13-0, with Commissioners Britton, Gainer, Moore and Sean Morrison absent, according to the county's legislative record (File 26-1964).

The resolution says the board wants Cook County residents' opinion on the proposed Illinois Property Tax Relief and Education Amendment heard by public officials and state legislators, alongside referendums in other jurisdictions.

Put on the ballot by Cook County Board of Commissioners, 13-0 (4 absent), July 16, 2026 (File 26-1964).

From official source 1, official source 2.

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Cook County mean?

Supports Illinois adopting the Millionaire Amendment: a 3% income tax surcharge only on millionaires, with 50% of the new revenue for residential and commercial property tax relief and 50% for state funding of public education.

What does a NO vote on Cook County mean?

Does not support Illinois adopting the Millionaire Amendment's 3% income tax surcharge on millionaires.

How many votes does Cook County need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Cook County?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot deadlines vary by state; check your state or county election office.