Sample Ballots & Voter Information.
- Judi Zapp
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
ALERT! Sample 2026 Primaries McHenry County Advisory Referendum
For the March 17, 2026, primary election, McHenry County voters will see a countywide non-binding advisory referendum regarding the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program. The initiative was spearheaded by the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) and its advocacy arm to urge Governor J.B. Pritzker to opt the state into this federal program.
Referendum Details
Question on Ballot: "Should Illinois opt into a federal program that would provide Public K-12, private school, and homeschool students with privately donated funds for academic needs, such as tutoring and test preparation, educational therapies for students with disabilities, tuition, books, exam fees or for other specified academic needs?".
Purpose: The referendum is intended to "send a signal" to state leadership about public support for the program.
Scope: Similar questions are appearing on ballots in at least 32 Illinois counties.
The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program
Established by the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," the program provides the following:
Tax Credit: Donors can receive a 100% federal tax credit of up to $1,700 per year for contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).
Eligibility: K-12 students (public, private, or homeschooled) whose household income is at or below 300% of the area median income.
Usage of Funds: Money can be used for tuition, tutoring, special-needs therapies, books, and other academic expenses.
State Requirement: While the federal tax credit is available to donors regardless of state action, students can only receive the scholarship funds if their governor opts the state INTO the program.
Perspectives
Support (Illinois Policy Institute): Proponents argue it is a "win-win-win" that uses private donations rather than public tax dollars to support student success for ALL students without harming public school funding. They emphasize that if Illinois does not opt-in, donations from Illinois taxpayers will likely flow to students in other states that have already joined.
Opposition (Illinois Education Association / Teachers Unions): Opponents describe the program as a "voucher scheme" that could eventually drain hundreds of millions of dollars from public school budgets by encouraging students to leave for better private schools. They also argue the ballot wording is misleading because it omits that the "privately donated funds" are incentivized by federal tax credits.
Helpful links that you as a voter can use to become better informed about the upcoming elections.
Click here to see a sample ballot for your specific address in McHenry County.
PLEASE NOTE: When using the sample ballot and polling place locator to closely follow the directions at the top of the screen. For example, we strongly recommend that if your address is 123 S. Main St, Woodstock, IL, enter "123" in the address number field and "main" in the street name field and nothing else.
Click here to access the McHenry County Clerks website for voter information.
Click here to access the Illinois Family Institute Voter guide (updated 2-18-26) and see where candidates stand on specific issues. View IFI Endorsements for Contested Races.
Please VOTE and share this information with family, friends and neighbors.
