Separation referendums in Illinois

Common card · No. 211973

Beginning in 2020, a number of counties of Illinois have held referendums relating to the separation of Cook County, and more specifically its city of Chicago, from the rest of Illinois. This might be achieved by splitting Chicago and some nearby areas off as a new state, separating themselves from Illinois to form a new state, or separating from Illinois and joining a neighboring state. The counties that have held these referendums tend to be thinly populated rural areas, mostly in the state's southeast. Advocates state that the dominance of Cook County in state politics means that such areas are ignored. These referendums are not legally binding, and a division of the state is ultimately unlikely. The referendums and related legislation have thus sometimes been used to raise awareness of other political issues, and make political statements. The modern politics of Illinois is dominated by Cook County, as it contains 40% of the state's population. This has made evident a strong urban–rural...

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