# After today, February's ballot questions are already set: the Council's three, and deadlines for anyone else

*The Council picked a music monument, its own lawyers and a sister-agency debt question in July, one of them by a single vote. Liquor and citizen petitions for February are due Nov. 12 and Nov. 23.*

By Chicago Politics · Updated Nov 3, 2026

Today's ballot ends with advisory questions, and so will February's. The City Council has already chosen the three citywide questions Chicago voters will see on Feb. 23, 2027, when they also elect a mayor and all 50 alderpersons. Meanwhile, the Board of Election Commissioners' calendar sets deadlines this month for other ways to get a question on that ballot.

Why it matters: advisory questions don't change any law, but the Council used them this year to put issues in front of voters during the campaign. February's three were set in July, by closer votes than November's.

## February's three questions

All three were adopted on July 22, our records show:

- **A permanent monument to Chicago's contributions to music and the arts** ([R2026-0025438](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0025438-submission-public-question-referendum-chicago-voters)), sponsored by Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th). Adopted **24 to 23**.
- **Independent legal counsel for the City Council,** separate from the City's Law Department and fully funded ([R2026-0025457](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0025457-submission-public-question-referendum-chicago-voters)), sponsored by Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd). Adopted **32 to 16**.
- **Withholding City money from sister agencies that don't enforce repayment plans for debts they owe the City** ([R2026-0025460](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0025460-submission-public-question-referendum-chicago-voters)), sponsored by Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) with 10 co-sponsors. Adopted **29 to 20**.

How each ward voted: [R2026-0025438](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0025438-submission-public-question-referendum-chicago-voters)

All three had been deferred at the July 15 meeting on a motion by Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) and Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th). On July 22, Ervin argued it was premature to set February's questions in July ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/AA0648B8-8A80-F111-AB0E-001DD80216AA?t=3329)).

**Why the order mattered.** At the July 9 Committee on Committees and Rules meeting, a deputy corporation counsel told members that the first three advisory questions the Council adopts for an election go on the ballot ([watch](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/4CFD43AC-5179-F111-AB0D-001DD806636B?t=5674)). With these three adopted in July, the Council's citywide slots for February are taken, unless one is repealed. Our [October story](/on-my-block/chicago-november-3-ballot-advisory-questions-explained) explains how the same limit shaped today's ballot.

Ward-level questions work differently. Today, the 26th Ward question on short-term rentals, placed by a Council resolution, appears alongside the citywide ones. [Our guide to today's ward questions](/on-my-block/chicago-ward-ballot-questions-november-3-corporate-tax-south-works-statue).

## Other ways onto February's ballot

The Board's [2027 election calendar](https://cboeprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/prod/2026-06/2027%20Election%20Calendar-ADOPTED.pdf) lists these dates:

- **Thu., Nov. 12:** last day to file petitions for a **local option referendum under the Liquor Control Act**, the kind of question that can make a precinct "dry" or allow alcohol sales. These go to the **City Clerk**, not the Board. (The legal deadline falls on Veterans Day, so it moves to the next business day.)
- **Mon., Nov. 23:** last day to file **citizen petitions for a question of public policy** under Article 28 of the Election Code, with the Board.
- **Wed., Dec. 2:** last day to object to those petitions.
- **Mon., Dec. 7:** last day for governing boards, such as the City Council, to adopt resolutions or ordinances putting public questions on the February ballot.

## What's next

- **Today, Nov. 3:** voters answer the [three citywide questions the Council chose for November](/on-my-block/chicago-november-3-ballot-advisory-questions-explained), plus ward and other questions. The Council isn't required to act on the results.
- **Dec. 7:** the Council's last chance to add or swap February questions. Its regular meetings before then are scheduled for Dec. 8 and 9, after the deadline, so any change would need an earlier meeting.
- **Feb. 23, 2027:** the municipal election.


## Legislation in this story

- [Submission of public question by referendum to Chicago voters at February 23, 2027 primary election on whether Chicago should create permanent monument celebrating Chicago's global contributions to music and arts](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0025438-submission-public-question-referendum-chicago-voters) (R2026-0025438)

## Sources

1. City Clerk: [R2026-0025438: Submission of public question by referendum to Chicago voters at February 23, 2027 primary election on whether Chicago should create permanent monument celebrating Chicago's global contributions to music and arts](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=257F1B3B-6854-F111-BEC5-001DD801AB0F)
2. City Clerk: [R2026-0025438, Legislation: w39others - r25438.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/6329826b-81cb-4417-9924-8f1abf2503aa.pdf)
3. City Clerk: [R2026-0025438, Committee Letter: 7.15.26 CCR Report to Council - Item 13.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/e3ed8425-8eb2-4ec4-bf18-aa47da0e5710.pdf)
4. City of Chicago: [City Council, Jul 22, 2026: meeting video](https://vimeo.com/1210889386)
5. City Clerk: [City Council, Jul 22, 2026: Notice](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachmentspublic/279da0f0-8c80-f111-ab0e-001dd80216aa.pdf)
6. City Clerk: [City Council, Jul 22, 2026: Agenda](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachmentspublic/cf29cbec-a4d5-4adf-8bd9-d55536d5dacf.pdf)
7. Chicago Politics: [R2026-0025438: votes, timeline and summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0025438-submission-public-question-referendum-chicago-voters)
8. Chicago Politics: [City Council, Jul 22, 2026: transcript](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1210889386.txt)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/chicago-february-2027-ballot-questions-council-three-set-petition-deadlines · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt