Three Southern Illinois counties vote on proposal to form new state separate from Cook County

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (KBSI) – Voters in three Southern Illinois counties are weighing in Tuesday on whether their county leaders should explore forming a new state separate from Cook County.

Saline, Hamilton and Gallatin counties have advisory questions on their Nov. 3 general election ballots asking whether county officials should pursue discussions with other Illinois counties about potentially forming a new state.

In Saline County, the ballot question asks whether the County Board should communicate with other Illinois counties outside Cook County about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state, subject to voter approval.

Voters in Hamilton and Gallatin counties are considering similar questions about whether their county leaders should explore the proposal through discussions with other Illinois counties.

The questions are nonbinding, meaning approval would indicate support for exploring the proposal but would not immediately create a new state or change Illinois’ boundaries.

A yes vote would signal support for county officials pursuing discussions about the possibility of forming a new state. A no vote would indicate opposition to those discussions.

Creating a new state from portions of Illinois would require additional steps, including approval from the Illinois General Assembly and Congress under the U.S. Constitution.

The advisory questions do not authorize the counties to separate from Illinois or establish a new state government.

Results from Tuesday’s election will indicate whether voters in the three counties support further discussions about the proposal.