Statewide Advisory Questions 2024

This year, all voters in Illinois will be able to weigh in on 3 advisory questions that will appear on the November 5th General Election ballot. These are NOT referendum questions. Referenda, by contrast, are guaranteed to go into effect if approved by voters.  Advisory questions are meant to show lawmakers how voters feel about legislative proposals.

The first advisory question is called the “Assisted Reproductive Health Referendum Act", and asks voters if insurers who cover pregnancy benefits should also cover “all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization” without a limit on the number of treatments.

The second advisory question is titled the "Income Tax Advisory Question". A similar question was put to voters in 2014, which asked them to approve a constitutional amendment imposing a 3% surcharge on incomes of $1 million or more to help fund public schools. While 68% of voters approved, the proposed constitutional amendment failed in the legislature. The 2024 advisory question instead asks if the constitution should be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1 million for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief.

The third and last question, the “Election Worker Protection and Candidate Accountability Referendum Act,” asks voters if a candidate on the Illinois ballot for federal, state or local office should be subject to civil penalties “if the candidate interferes or attempts to interfere with an election worker’s official duties.” This is in reaction to the deadly riot on January 6th, as well as other instances of election worker harassment and threats throughout the US.

Click the image below for the complete text of these Advisory Questions from the Illinois State Board of Elections.