A growing number of Illinois residents are considering breaking away from the current state to form a new administrative unit. The initiative is centered mainly in southern Illinois, where some residents believe their interests are being overlooked by politicians in Chicago and the surrounding area. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, a nonbinding referendum will be held in 11 counties, in which voters will say whether they support starting efforts to create a new, 51st U.S. state.
New State Instead of Illinois: Southern Residents Feel Overlooked
The effort to break away from Illinois mainly involves residents of the southern part of the state. Its supporters argue that decisions made by the state legislature too often take into account the needs of Chicago and Cook County while ignoring the problems of smaller towns and southern communities.
Loret Newlin, director of the organization Illinois Separation Referendum, argues that laws that work well in Chicago do not necessarily work in the rest of the state. In her view, residents of southern Illinois bear the consequences of political decisions over which they have limited influence.
Supporters of the initiative also point to financial issues. According to Newlin, Cook County generates significant revenue but also comes with very high expenses that, in the activists’ view, burden the rest of Illinois.
The organizers stress that their goal is not to join one of the neighboring states. They want to create an entirely new, 51st U.S. state.
Referendum in 11 Counties: What Does the Vote Mean?
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, residents of 11 counties will have the chance to weigh in on the issue. The ballot will include a question asking whether voters want to consider creating a new state by separating from Illinois.
The referendum, however, is nonbinding. Even if a majority of voters back the initiative, it does not automatically mean Illinois will be divided or that a formal separation process will begin.
According to the organizers, a positive result could instead serve as an impetus for further community and organizational efforts. The main aim is to bring together people interested in the project and to increase pressure on state politicians.
Newlin stresses that even if the referendum fails, it will be an important signal to lawmakers. It is meant to show that a significant group of Illinois residents is dissatisfied with the way the state is currently governed.
How Can a New State Be Created in the U.S.?
Supporters of the initiative point to Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which contains the so-called new states clause, on the admission of new states.
The provision sets out the rules for creating new states within the United States. In the case of the proposed division of Illinois, approval would be needed from both the Illinois General Assembly and the U.S. Congress.
A similar mechanism was used in the past in the creation of West Virginia, which separated from Virginia during the Civil War.
The path to a new state would therefore be long and would require agreement at both the state and federal levels. The November referendum is only a first step toward gauging how much support there is for the idea.
Source: Polski.FM
