Ald. Bill Conway (34) questions Chicago Board of Elections leaders at a budget hearing on Nov. 9, 2026. [Livestream] 

Chicago Board of Elections leaders apologized Monday for a coding error that left voters in some precincts without ballots on Election Day during a budget hearing in which alderpeople spent most of the time pressing them on long lines, missing equipment and poor communication with City Council members ahead of the February 2027 municipal election. 

The board is requesting $48.45 million for 2027, an increase of $20.59 million, or 73.87 percent, over this year, according to the Council Office of Financial Analysis. The increase reflects the Feb. 23 municipal election, the April 6 runoff and preparations for 2028.  

Next year’s board budget is about $8 million less than the $56.6 million the board received in 2023, the last mayoral election year, according to the city’s budget overview.