Seven more conservative counties in Illinois voted to consider divorcing Chicago and Cook County. Rural counties in Illinois are considering seceding because they feel the Windy City and its counties have too much influence over the state's politics and culture.
Residents of Iroquois County, Calhoun County, Clinton County, Greene County, Jersey County, Madison County, and Perry County may be eligible to participate in the board of directors of any other county in Illinois other than Cook and the board of any county other than Cook. “Should we respond to this?”, they voted in favor. Will it secede from Cook County to form a new state and seek admission to the Union subject to popular approval? ” The referendum is not legally binding, and its results mean that 33 counties in Illinois have voted to consider forming their own state.
Seven counties voted overwhelmingly to consider secession. 77 percent in Calhoun; Jersey, 76 percent; Green, 74 percent; Iroquois, 73 percent; Clinton at 73%. Perry, 72 percent. and Madison, 57 percent.
Madison County, near St. Louis, was the first suburban county to join the movement, and the largest to date with a population of over 260,000.
An organization called New Illinois has been promoting a secession-type movement for several years. “All power in Illinois government is concentrated in Cook County and Chicago, which leaves the rest of the state with no real representation,” New Illinois said.
“When it comes to the state of Down, Illinois, their needs are not being addressed and their needs are not being represented in Congress,” political science expert Kent Redfield said.
voting is not allowed
Politicians in Springfield were cool to the idea that some people might wish to establish their own state.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul slammed the idea.
In my opinion, counties without home rule do not have the authority to secede from Illinois and join another state. Therefore, a referendum on the issue of county secession is not legally binding… The Admissions Clause (of the U.S. Constitution) gives Congress the power to admit new states and prevents existing states from being subdivided without the consent of the states.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker suggested the state should not allow counties to vote on the issue.
“The idea that one part of Illinois wants to oust another part of Illinois should not be on the ballot and should not be part of politicians' lexicon or discussion. We are one state. and we support each other,” Pritzker said in May.
potential hurdles
Redfield pointed out that there are several drawbacks to creating a new nation. “The majority of economic activity and the majority of the tax revenue that Illinois generates comes from Northeast Illinois.”
“We need federal approval,” Redfield added. “We would need an act of Congress signed by the president, which would require the Illinois General Assembly to approve splitting the state of Illinois into two.”
But if the county can't create a new state, perhaps it can create another state that aligns with its values. This would mimic what many counties in Oregon hope to do to join neighboring Idaho. The Red State Secession blog proposes relocating disaffected Illinoisans to Indiana, Missouri, or Kentucky. These states have financial incentives, the blog noted.
The Greater Idaho movement and the Illinois separatists demonstrate one thing. Rural Americans don't like left-wing cities controlling their lives and are looking for a way out.