Illinois counties advance bid to split from Cook County and form new state

All 11 Illinois counties that held separation referendums on Tuesday voted in favor of exploring a new state, according to unofficial results. The measures instruct county boards to collaborate with other jurisdictions outside Cook County to sever ties and seek admission to the union. This outcome adds to a growing list of areas open to the idea, with no county having rejected the proposal in previous votes.

Several counties approved the measures with wide margins of support. Washington County saw more than three in four voters cast ballots in favor. Gallatin County registered nearly 70 percent support, while Henderson County followed with 73.1 percent in favor. The ballot language typically asks if the board should correspond with other counties about the possibility of separating and forming a new state, subject to popular approval.

The group Illinois Separation has driven the effort to place these questions on ballots. The organization cites Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution as the basis for the movement. They argue that counties disenchanted with the political influence of Cook County should have the option to form a distinct entity. The group uses petition-driven referendums and county board decisions to get these measures before voters.

State officials have voiced skepticism about the process. Governor JB Pritzker has described the initiative as a stunt. Attorney General Kwame Raoul has questioned the legal standing of such a move. These comments reflect a divided response among state leadership as the number of supportive counties increases.

Illinois Separation expects more counties to take up similar referendums in future elections. The organization plans to continue using a combination of petitions and board decisions to place the questions on ballots. The current total stands at 33 counties that have voted in favor of separation measures in previous or current cycles.