CHICAGO (March 26, 2025) – Chicago is a rarity for holding municipal elections during cold months and off-cycle years, leading to historically low turnout among white, Black and Hispanic Chicagoans.

It’s one of many examples of how Chicago governance is out of step with other large cities, leading to more corruption and poorer results for city residents. That’s why the Illinois Policy Institute has launched the Chicago Policy Center to bring more responsible government principles and healthy civic engagement to Chicago’s political structure and culture.

In its inaugural report, “How Chicago’s election timing suppresses voting,” the Chicago Policy Center found the average turnout in municipal elections in Chicago during the past decade is 36.4% –  40% lower turnout than the average general election.

“Chicago is the only big city in the country to have this unique election timing and it directly discourages voters,” said Austin Berg, executive director of the Chicago Policy Center.  “The most important policy decisions happen at the local level, and when you have low turnout, elected leaders are less accountable to constituents and more accountable to special interests. Today’s current, messy political environment in Chicago is the result.”

How Chicagoans voted:

• Average municipal turnout during the past 10 years was lowest in Ward 16 with a turnout rate of 24%. The ward is on the Southwest Side of Chicago and includes parts of Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, New City and West Englewood.
• Chicago saw the highest municipal turnout during the past decade in Ward 19, a predominantly white ward on the South Side that includes Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park.
• Ward 34 sees the most significant drop-off with a voter participation decline of 56.2% between the municipal and general elections.
• The smallest drop-off is in Ward 11, an area that encompasses Bridgeport, Armour Square and Chinatown, which experienced a 24.3% decrease.
• The November presidential ballot also included a Chicago school board election. The 80% of Chicagoans who voted for president also voted for school board members. Putting more local races on general election ballots could significantly increase participation among Chicago voters.

The center highlights that transitioning to on-cycle elections is the most significant step local communities can take to enhance voter turnout. Election consolidation in major U.S. cities has also been shown to significantly increase voter turnout.

“It’s time Chicago established better election timing through creation of a city charter, as is the case in nearly every other big city. Short of that, Illinois lawmakers could also amend state law to allow for better election timing, and thus encourage more participation in local democracy,” Berg said.

To read the Chicago Policy Center’s report, “How Chicago’s election timing suppresses voting,” visit illin.is/chicagoelection.

For interviews or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.