Chicago voters support gunshot detection and millionaire tax in referendums

Chicago voters expressed strong support for several non-binding ballot measures during Tuesday’s election. Results indicate that more than 70 percent of residents favor the resumption of gunshot detection technology, such as ShotSpotter, to combat violent crime and improve emergency response times.

Additionally, voters approved measures to implement a state-level tax on millionaires to fund public education and other initiatives, as well as the creation of standalone festival grounds. While these referendums do not trigger automatic changes in law or policy, they provide political momentum for advocacy groups and lawmakers.

Despite the public mandate for gunshot detection, Mayor Brandon Johnson has previously resisted reviving the technology, citing concerns over cost, effectiveness, and its impact on over-policing in minority communities. The city is currently in a process to find a replacement for the previous ShotSpotter contract through an open competition.