Glenbard Township voters were left divided on District 87’s $183 million dollar referendum, by a margin of less than 1 percent. After the polling ballots were recorded, the race is too close to call until all mail in votes are counted in the next two weeks

This referendum requires a simple majority to pass. As of March 20, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, the affirmative only has a 0.38 percent lead of just 90 more votes. 

The DuPage Election Division has 14 days from Election Day to count mail-in and provisional ballots.  Vote by mail ballots have been trending towards yes, currently with a lead of over 1,700 votes. Whether this trend will translate into a lead significant enough to secure a victory for the district, is still up in the air. 

The proposition saw around 20 percent of registered DuPage County voters cast ballots. This is down from two years ago in the 2022 primary, which saw just under 23 percent of registered voters turnout.

If the ballot question is approved, funds generated from the referendum would be combined with $129 million from the district’s operating budget, amounting to $312 million in spending over the next decade. The district hopes to construct secure entrance vestibules, upgrade classrooms and science labs, create common spaces, relocate student support services, add multi-use spaces, improve fine arts facilities, expand cafeterias, and relieve congestion at all four Glenbard high schools. Additions are also planned at West, North, and East campuses. 

If the referendum fails, the district could try again in the election in November. Whether there will be any amendments to the cost or overall plan has yet to be determined. 

To find out more detailed information about the referendum, read this earlier article.