Illinois Separation: 33 Counties Approved, 12 More on the Ballot

Voters in 12 Illinois counties will see a non-binding Nov. 3 referendum on separating from Cook County to form a new state, joining 33 counties that have already approved similar questions. The ballot question: It asks whether the county board should communicate with other Illinois county boards outside Cook County about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state and seek admission to the Union, subject to voter approval. The question typically appears at the very end of the ballot, after statewide, congressional, and local races. The 12 counties are Adams (only a handful of townships, not the whole county), Coles, Gallatin, Hamilton, Henderson, Macoupin, McDonough, Monroe, Piatt, Saline, Warren, and Washington. Early voting is already underway. Previous votes: Thirty-three Illinois counties have already approved similar non-binding resolutions, mostly outside Cook County and Chicago, with roughly 74% approval on average, according to the segment. Some of the 12 counties on this year’s ballot passed resolutions six years ago with slightly different wording; the Illinois Separation Group is pushing uniform wording this time. What the group says it is and isn’t: Loret Newlin of the Illinois Separation Group says the question does not join counties to Indiana, does not separate Illinois from America, and does not create a new state. She calls it a non-binding question that gives every voter equal access to weigh in, rather than an opinion poll. She says next steps include looking into finances and approaching the state legislature and Congress, since Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution requires approval from both. She acknowledges the obstacles and says it could take a long time. Related efforts: A separate group, New Illinois, is holding conventions and drafting a new constitution; Loret Newlin says it is a different organization. Indiana also created a commission last year to study absorbing some Illinois counties, with members appointed by Indiana’s governor; the segment notes the appointments from Gov. JB Pritzker’s side have not been made. Pritzker’s response: In August 2025, Pritzker called the Indiana effort a stunt and said, “there’s no chance that you’re going to pick up a county and have it join another state.” He said he’d like disgruntled residents to stay and work with the state, but “if you want to leave, then get up and move.” Newlin says the governor has changed his tune from 2024, when he said “we are one Illinois.” The segment does not include a response from Cook County officials or the governor’s office to the current referendum. Outmigration: Greg Bishop notes Illinois is among the states, with New York and California, seeing residents leave for places like Texas and Florida, according to moving company and census data The Center Square regularly reports. Newlin says she has heard from people who moved away and would return if separation moves forward. The Center Square’s Greg Bishop reports. Would you vote for a separation referendum in your county? Leave your thoughts in the comments. #Illinois #IllinoisSeparation #CookCounty #IllinoisElection #CenterSquare #TheStates