Illinois Secession Group Focusing On St. Louis Suburbs: Report

ILLINOIS — The movement in some Illinois communities to secede from the Chicago area is making progress, according to a recent report.

So far, 26 counties, as far south as the Kentucky border and as far north as west-central Hancock County, have cast ballots in non-binding secession referendums, with the majority of voters supporting the idea in each county, according to unofficial percentages provided by the organization Illinois Separation Referendum. Among the areas where advocates have set their sights are the St. Louis suburbs, according to St. Louis Public Radio.

“Many of us no longer consent to being governed by the Cook County-dominated legislature which seems unaware of how differently the rest of the state lives, our values and morals, or how laws for the city of Chicago are inappropriate and oppressive to the rest of the state,” said material posted on Facebook by Illinois Separation Referendum.

With a population of over a quarter-million people and bordering Missouri, southwestern Madison County would be a big get for the secession movement, St. Louis Public Radio reported. Two of its townships voted in favor of secession in last month’s election. A former Democratic stronghold, the county has become increasingly conservative in recent years, professor John Jackson told the radio station.

The referendum language asks voters if a county should communicate with other counties about potentially separating from Cook County to form a new state, according to Illinois Separation Referendum.

“There are areas we would save money by separating,” the organization said on Facebook. “With different laws, we would attract businesses.”

Illinois Separation Referendum leadership hopes to have new ballot measures put to the voting population of 80 counties by 2024, according to St. Louis Public Radio, although Jackson told the station secession is unlikely, given that it must be approved by both the state legislature and U.S. Congress.