Every Hinsdale voter will have a say this November on whether DuPage County should eliminate its elected coroner and replace the office with an appointed medical examiner.
The DuPage County Board approved resolution CB-R-0041-26 at its Tuesday, Aug. 11 meeting, placing the countywide question on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, according to the county's meeting agenda. Early voting begins Thursday, Sept. 24.
The referendum asks whether DuPage County should abolish the independently elected Office of Coroner and create an appointed Office of Medical Examiner. If voters say yes, the county board chair would appoint the medical examiner, subject to confirmation by the full board.
What would change
The difference comes down to qualifications and accountability. Under Illinois law, a coroner does not need a medical degree or forensic certification. A medical examiner must be a physician board-certified in forensic pathology.
The trade-off is direct voter control. The coroner runs for election every four years. A medical examiner would answer to the board chair and serve at the board's pleasure.
Hinsdale's Kari Galassi, who represents District 3 on the county board, is among the members who voted on the resolution. The exact vote count has not been published in meeting minutes yet.
How we got here
Board member James Zay of District 6 introduced the idea at the board's June 23 meeting, NCTV17 reported, framing it as part of a broader push to restructure county offices.
"This is not new talk. We've talked about eliminating, or combining, the recorder in the clerk's office. We've talked about eliminating the auditor's office," Zay said at the June 23 meeting.
Board Chair Deborah Conroy took a neutral stance at the same June 23 session, saying the decision would be "the will of the board." She also clarified that the proposal was not a criticism of current Coroner Judith Lukas, a Democrat who won the 2024 election, noting Lukas meets all statutory qualifications for the position.
At that June 23 discussion, board member Cynthia Cronin Cahill of District 1 voiced support for requiring professional credentials, while board member Lucy Chang Evans said she wanted the review to focus on the positions themselves, not on current staff.
DuPage requires voter approval
DuPage County is not a home-rule county, which means it cannot abolish an elected office without a countywide referendum. Cook County, which is home rule, established its Medical Examiner's Office in 1976 after a different process. The legal distinction is why the question goes directly to DuPage voters.
What's on the ballot
The referendum will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Every registered voter in Hinsdale will have a direct say. A simple majority decides.
The specific ballot language has not yet been published.
Hinsdale Government Week Ahead
- DuPage County Board: Next regular meeting expected in September (date not yet posted). Watch for Aug. 11 meeting minutes, which will include the official vote tally on CB-R-0041-26.
- Early voting: DuPage County early voting opens Thursday, Sept. 24. The coroner referendum will be among the questions on the ballot.
