Low Voter Turnout in Property Tax Referendums Despite Public Outcry
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas highlighted that voter turnout for property tax referendums has been extremely low, averaging just 20.1% across the 2025 local elections and the 2026 primary election. In four of these referendums, less than 10% of eligible voters participated. Despite widespread public complaints about rising property taxes—some homeowners even burning their tax bills—few took action at the polls. The analysis revealed that although only a small fraction of voters cast ballots on referendum questions, those who did approved $335.5 million in new bonds and over $3.5 million in direct tax increases. In one case, just 4.9% of eligible voters participated in approving a significant increase for the Northbrook Rural Fire Protection District. Pappas emphasized that voter apathy undermines democratic decision-making on critical financial matters affecting local communities. She urged homeowners to take action by voting rather than merely expressing dissatisfaction.
Topics: local elections low voter turnout property tax referendums tax increases