Illinois Separation

In November, Madison County in the Metro East became the first nonrural county to pass a symbolic secession referendum.

“I think people express their frustrations in a variety of ways,” Prtizker said during a visit to the Metro East on Thursday. “This is not something that will actually make any change in the state of Illinois.”

The passage of the advisory referendum, which asked voters if the county board should communicate with other counties about separating from Cook County, is a win for the growing movement in downstate Illinois.

The nonbinding advisory referendums, which include Madison County, are seen by advocates as a way to quantify discontent with the direction of Illinois’ state government. Critics say actually forming a new state is far-fetched.

The results are nonbinding, but lawmakers may consider them when proposing policy.

While celebrating a new administration building for Madison County Transit, the Democratic governor criticized the symbolic referendum that county voters will consider this November.

The Metro East county could become the 27th in downstate Illinois to vote on possibly seceding to form a new state. Political and legal experts believe separation is highly improbable.

The Government Relations Committee voted on Tuesday to approve a nonbinding referendum for the full board to consider. If approved, the referendum would ask residents in a symbolic vote if they would like to no longer be in the same state as the Chicago area.

As the eighth most populous county in the state, Madison would be the largest with a secession referendum on the ballot. Illinoisans who want to secede see the Metro East county as a tipping point for their movement to break free from Chicago’s political influence.