Eleven Illinois counties to vote on exploring separation from Cook County
Voters in another 11 Illinois counties are set to consider non-binding measures on separating from Cook County, which includes Chicago. Supporters say rural communities feel overlooked by Chicago’s influence over state policy, while Governor JB Pritzker has dismissed the campaign as a stunt and said separation will not happen.
So far, all 33 counties that have held such votes have backed exploring separation, according to the campaign group Illinois Separation. Cook County has nearly 41 per cent of Illinois’ population, and four neighbouring counties account for a further 22 per cent; all five lean Democratic. A new state would require approval from the Illinois legislature and US Congress, making the proposal a long shot.
In short
- 33 counties have backed exploring separation from Cook County.
- 11 more counties are due to vote on non-binding measures.
- State and congressional approval would be required to form a new state.
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The case for
Supporters argue that rural counties have distinct needs and that Chicago and its suburbs, with a large share of the state’s population, can dominate policy and spending decisions. They see non-binding votes as a democratic way to register frustration and explore whether local communities could gain greater representation or control, even if separation faces major legal hurdles.
The case against
Opponents argue that a county vote cannot resolve concerns about representation and that creating a new state would require difficult approvals from both the Illinois legislature and Congress. They may also see the campaign as a symbolic distraction, since Cook County and its neighbours make up much of Illinois’s population and economy, and dividing the state could create costly political and administrative disruption.
Explained simply
Illinois is one of the 50 US states, with Chicago as its largest city and Cook County as the county that includes the city. Counties are local government areas, and Illinois’s population and political influence are concentrated around Chicago and several neighbouring counties.
Some rural residents say their communities have too little say in state decisions because of Chicago’s influence. A campaign group, Illinois Separation, supports exploring whether parts of the state could separate from Cook County and form a new state; the votes on that question are non-binding, so they do not change government arrangements.
Creating a new state would require approval from both the Illinois legislature and the US Congress. That means county votes alone cannot bring about separation.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Illinois counties to vote on prospect of forming new state without crime-ridden Chicago”.