On your November 3 ballot
Protect your vote on your taxes.
Home rule means the County Board could raise your taxes and fees — without voter approval.
What changes with home rule
Today, McHenry County can only use the powers state law gives it, or that voters approve at the ballot box. Home rule would give the County Board broader power over local taxes, fees, borrowing and county laws — without having to ask voters.
Today
With home rule
Raising taxes and fees
TodayOnly what state law allows, or what voters approve.
Home ruleThe County Board decides — without voter approval.
Property tax increases
TodayCapped by state law: 5% or inflation, whichever is less.
Home ruleThe state cap is gone — the door opens to larger, more frequent property tax hikes.
New taxes on everyday costs
TodayOnly taxes state law allows.
Home ruleNew local taxes and fees: sales, food and beverage, renters, real estate transactions.
Borrowing
TodayLimited by state law.
Home ruleMore debt and risky spending — with taxpayers left on the hook.
Home rule doesn’t expire. Once voters grant that power, future County Boards could use it at any time.
Now you know.
Thirty seconds on what home rule means for McHenry County.
McHenry County has said NO before
About 7 in 10
McHenry County voters vote NO once they learn what home rule means.
Poll of 400 likely McHenry County voters, Aug. 17–19, 2026.
64% to 36%
In 2012, McHenry County voters said NO to a county executive.
November 2012 McHenry County referendum results.
Your vote
Supporters call home rule “local control.” The most local control there is: your vote.
Pledge to vote NO on home rule
Add your name. We’ll keep you posted on home rule and issues like it.
Thank you, !
You’re pledge #. Now make it count.
When will you vote?
Early voting is open now. Find an early voting site — any site in McHenry County works.
Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your polling place.
Apply by Oct. 29. Mail your ballot so it’s postmarked by Nov. 3 — or use a drop box.
0 McHenry County neighbors have pledged to vote NO
Tap a ZIP code to see its pledges.
Here’s what you’ll see on your ballot
It’s an advisory question — and it asks about more than home rule.
- It’s near the end of your ballot. See an example on your sample ballot.
- Look for the words “Home Rule County” and “county executive.”
- Fill in the oval next to NO.
Advisory referendum to the voters of McHenry County regarding becoming a home rule county and adopting the county executive form of government
Would you support McHenry becoming a Home Rule County and establishing the county executive form of government?
YES
NO Vote NO
Where to vote
Voting information from the Illinois State Board of Elections and McHenry County Clerk.
Early voting in McHenry County
Click here to access McHenry County’s Early Voting Information McHenry County Clerk · mchenrycountyil.gov (opens in a new tab)Find your Election Day polling place
Your polling place depends on your address.
Google Maps
Pick your address from the list.
Looking up where you vote…
We use your address only to find your polling place. We don’t keep it. Google uses it to suggest addresses and to look up your polling place.
Official pages: McHenry County’s early voting information · The State Board’s polling place lookup
Questions voters ask
Is this vote binding?
No. It’s an advisory question: it asks what voters want. A YES builds momentum for a binding home rule vote later. A NO tells the County Board that McHenry County doesn’t want it.
What is the state property tax cap?
Illinois limits how much the county’s property tax collections can grow each year: 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. Home rule counties don’t have that cap.
Why does the question mention a county executive?
In Illinois, a county becomes home rule by electing a county executive. That’s why the two come together on the ballot.
Does home rule expire?
No. Once voters grant that power, it doesn’t expire. Future County Boards could use it at any time.
Supporters say it’s about local control. Is it?
Home rule moves power from voters to the County Board. The most local control there is: your vote.
Is any other Illinois county home rule?
Only one: Cook County. Home rule would make McHenry the second.
Sources
- McHenry County Clerk — Public Notice of Referendum, Nov. 3, 2026 — the exact ballot wording
- Illinois Department of Revenue — Property Tax Extension Limitation Law — the cap of 5% or inflation, and that it applies only to non-home rule governments
- Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6 — a county becomes home rule by electing a chief executive
- Northwest Herald, July 9, 2026 — Cook is Illinois’s only home rule county
- Patch — 2012 McHenry County referendum — the 2012 county executive question
- Illinois State Board of Elections — 2026 election calendar and lookups — voting dates, early voting sites and polling places