Illinois ‘fair tax’ amendment headed for rejection

NIU+to+host+early+voting+at+8%3A30+a.m.+to+4%3A30+p.m.+from+Oct.+24-+Nov.+3+in+the+Glass+Gallery+Lounge+in+the+Holmes+Student+Center.+

Northern Star File Photo

NIU to host early voting at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Oct. 24- Nov. 3 in the Glass Gallery Lounge in the Holmes Student Center.

By Kierra Frazier

DeKALB — The Associated Press projects that Illinois’s graduated income tax amendment has failed with 97% of votes counted as of Nov. 4.

The amendment appears to have failed with 2.7 million Illinois voters against the amendment and 2.2 million of voters in favor of it, as of Nov. 4, according to the Associated Press.

DeKalb County also appears to have rejected the amendment with 27,450 votes against the amendment and 18,776 votes for it, as of Nov. 4, according to the DeKalb County election site.

The amendment intended to make Illinois’ current income tax look more like the graduated federal income tax. The current flat rate income tax that Illinois has is 4.95%. All residents of Illinois, regardless of income, pay a 4.95% income tax. 

With the proposed amendment, the income tax rate would have changed to a range between 4.75% and 7.99% based on a person’s income, according to Ballotpedia

As an amendment to the Illinois Constitution, the referendum would’ve required 60%, or a supermajority, to pass. Only 45% of voters favored the amendment and 55% voted against it as of Nov. 4, according to the Associated Press. 

There are only nine states that have the flat rate system Illinois currently has, according to the Institution of Taxation and Economic Policy website.