More Illinois counties vote on forming state without Chicago

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 02:31 · Archive

More Illinois counties are voting on leaving the state and forming a new one, citing Chicago's influence and crime.

More than 30 Illinois counties have already voted in favour of non-binding measures to leave the state. Eleven more counties are scheduled to vote on separation referenda this year, which could bring the total to over 40 counties backing the idea.

The movement is driven by frustration with Chicago's influence on state politics. Loret Newlin, director of Illinois Separation, told NBC Chicago that state leadership ignores concerns from other parts of Illinois. 'This is our lived experience. We are ignored. We are not taken into consideration when they're making a lot of the laws that hurt us,' she said. Supporters cite Chicago's crime rate, high cost of living and Democratic leadership as reasons for seeking separation.

Iroquois County, 70 miles south of Chicago, voted in favour of leaving with about 73 per cent support. Madison County, the state's eighth most populous, also backed the measure. Newlin said the addition of counties across different regions of Illinois shows the movement extends beyond rural or southern areas alone. One organiser in Madison County said the movement has more substance than state officials have acknowledged.

How it is being reported

• Illinois counties to vote on prospect of forming new state without crime-ridden ChicagoOut of Illinois' 102 counties, 33 have already voted in favor of exploring separation from Chicago, and 11 more are set to vote on the idea in the upcoming midterm election.Daily Mail · 26 Oct, 02:18
• A new state on the way? More Illinois counties could vote to leave Chicago behindMore than 30 counties have already approved the non-binding measure to leave IllinoisIndependent World · 25 Oct, 22:06

In this story: Illinois · Chicago · Cook County · Iroquois County · Madison County · Loret Newlin · Illinois Separation

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