Chicago Voters Approve Gunshot Detection and Festival Space
Residents backed advisory measures on technology and public spaces while weighing a complex federal reimbursement proposal.
By Aiko Sato ·
Chicago voters approved a plan to restart gunshot detection technology and create a permanent festival space during the November 2026 election. The city placed three advisory referenda on the ballot to measure public opinion on specific policy directions. These questions did not carry the force of law but served to guide future city decisions.
The first question asked whether the city should resume using technology that alerts first responders to gunfire. Voters supported this measure. The second question proposed developing a dedicated outdoor area for large-scale events. Chicagoans voted in favor of establishing this permanent festival space.
The third city question addressed financial recovery from the federal government. It asked if the city should pursue lawful means to recover costs from the Donald Trump administration's ICE operations. The proposal specifically cited the Midway Blitz operation led by Greg Bovino. It sought compensation for lost tax revenue and public safety response costs. The question described the federal actions as violent and militarized.
Voters in the Chicago Public Schools district faced two separate advisory questions. The first asked if Illinois should use revenue from a surcharge on millionaires to fund public schools. The second question proposed an annual charge on owners of long-term vacant commercial properties. This fee would also support the school district.
Cook County residents also considered a proposal known as the Millionaire Amendment. This measure sought to enact a 3% income tax surcharge on millionaires. The plan would split the new revenue evenly. Half would provide property tax relief for residential and commercial taxpayers. The other half would improve state funding for public education.
