Polls open: CPS board races, Cook County ‘millionaires tax’ question on ballot

September 24, 2026

Illinois early voting begins Sept. 24

PRESS RELEASE from the
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

CONTACT: Micky Horstman (312) 607-4977

Polls open: CPS board races, Cook County ‘millionaires tax’ question on ballot 
Illinois early voting begins Sept. 24

CHICAGO (Sept. 24, 2026) – Early voting begins across Illinois today for the Nov. 3 general election and in Chicago on Oct. 1.

In addition to the top-ballot gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races, Cook County voters will weigh in on a nonbinding advisory income tax question, while Chicago voters will choose the city’s first fully elected school board.

The Illinois Policy Institute found that as of Sept. 1 the Chicago Teachers Union had spent almost $236,000 on eight candidates and has endorsed 15 for the first fully elected Chicago school board. Most of that spending has gone toward the former CTU staffer running for president.

Illinois Policy Institute experts are available to discuss the following issues on the ballot: 

Cook County’s ‘millionaires tax’ advisory question: 

  • Voters will be asked whether Illinois should adopt a 3% income tax surcharge on individual income above $1 million, with half the revenue for residential and commercial property tax relief and half for public education. Because some business owners report business earnings on their individual returns, a surcharge could also apply to qualifying business income.
  • For such a tax to be enacted, state lawmakers would need to pass a constitutional amendment onto a ballot for voters to approve. Voters rejected a progressive income tax amendment in 2020.

Chicago’s first ever fully elected school board: 

  • Voters will have the chance to elect 20 school board members and a president for terms beginning in January 2027. The board’s responsibilities include approving the Chicago Public Schools budget, property tax levy and labor contracts, including agreements with the Chicago Teachers Union.

To find more information about CTU endorsed candidates, visit, illin.is/2026-CTU-spend.

For bookings or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.

Table of Chicago school board candidates endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union and the union's contribution to each, led by $207,293 to board president candidate Hilario Dominguez.