IL Ballot Measures Take Aim At Property Tax Relief, In Vitro Benefits

ACROSS ILLINOIS — Early voting gets underway Thursday across most counties in the Chicago area. And for those hitting the polls ahead of the Nov. 5 election, there will be three non-binding advisory questions they'll be asked to vote "yes" or "no" on.

The following three questions will appear on Illinois voters' ballots this election season:

Assisted Reproductive Healthcare Advisory Question

• Advise state officials on whether to provide for medically assisted reproductive treatments, including in vitro fertilization, to be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides full coverage to pregnancy benefits.

Income Tax Advisory Question

• Advise state officials on whether to amend the Illinois Constitution to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1 million for the purpose of dedicating funds to property tax relief

Penalties for Candidate Interference with Election Worker's Duties Advisory Question

• Advise state officials on whether to establish civil penalties if a candidate interferes or attempts to interfere with an election worker's official duties

But, what is a non-binding advisory question? And what could your vote mean for the future of the state?

Since it is "non-binding," a majority "yes" vote will not result in a new law or have any legal effect on the state's law or constitutional amendments. But is meant to help state government officials gauge public interest, according to officials.

There are only three ballot measures allowed on statewide ballots each election. The last time there were three questions was in 2014, according to Ballotpedia.

The advisory questions needed a majority vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session this past year to make it onto ballots statewide, which amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the Illinois House of Representatives and 30 votes in the Illinois State Senate, according to Ballotpedia. The questions also require the governor's signature.

This advisory questions passed the House on May 1, with a 67-4 vote and the Senate on May 2, with a 35-3 vote. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed off on the ballot measures on May 3.