REALTORS® who live in Barrington, Carbondale, Collinsville and Freeport will all have opportunities to vote against Home Rule on Nov. 8, even though the wording on the ballots may differ.

“We want to reassure REALTORS® around the state that Illinois REALTORS® opposes Home Rule in all of these communities,” says Joe Roth, Local Governmental Affairs Director in Barrington. “The way ballot initiatives are worded in each community can vary. It can be confusing when members in one community need to vote ‘yes,’ but members in another community need to vote ‘no.’”

Unfortunately, Home Rule in Illinois allows elected officials to bypass voters on decisions to increase taxes and impose regulations on property owners.

In Barrington, the ballots ask: “Shall the Village of Barrington, Illinois, become a Home Rule unit pursuant to Article VII, Section 6, of the Illinois Constitution?” It is the second time since 2014 that voters have been asked to support Home Rule in Barrington, a village of more than 10,000. In this instance, residents of the northern Chicago suburb who oppose Home Rule should vote “no.”

On the southern edge of the state in Carbondale, the ballots ask: “Shall the City of Carbondale cease to be a Home Rule unit?” Carbondale achieved Home Rule authority in the 1960s when its population rose above 25,000. But a steady drop in the number of Southern Illinois University students has now forced the city to ask residents whether Home Rule should continue since the population is below the 25,000 threshold. In this instance, opponents of Home Rule should vote “yes.”

The Freeport ballots ask: “Shall the City of Freeport remain a Home Rule unit of government?” So, in this case, Home Rule opponents should vote “no.” The Collinsville ballots ask: “Shall the City of Collinsville cease to be a Home Rule unit?” In this case, opponents will vote “yes.”

Why REALTORS® oppose Home Rule

Ask our Local Governmental Affairs Directors and you’ll discover they are united in opposing Home Rule in Illinois because it allows elected officials to bypass voters when making decisions about tax levies and bonding. Home Rule authority allows:

  • municipalities to take on more debt,
  • property owners to pay more taxes and face more regulations, and
  • tenants to pay higher rents.

General elections in November

The Illinois State Board of Elections offers you everything you need to know about elections on Tues., Nov. 8. For example, REALTORS® can use the Illinois State Board of Elections website to:

In addition, the “My Elected Representative” feature allows voters to confirm their state and federally elected officials.