Voters in three Southern Illinois counties will have an opportunity to weigh in on a proposal to explore separating from Cook County and forming a new state during the November 3 General Election.
Residents of Saline, Gallatin, and Hamilton counties will see advisory referendum questions on their ballots asking whether county leaders should pursue discussions with other Illinois counties about potentially forming a separate state.
The questions are nonbinding, meaning approval would not immediately change state boundaries, taxes, or government operations. Instead, a majority of yes votes would indicate public support for further exploration of the proposal.
In Saline County, voters will be asked whether their county board should communicate with officials in other counties outside Cook County about the possibility of separation. Hamilton County’s ballot question specifically references the possibility of establishing the nation’s 51st state.
A total of 12 Illinois counties are considering similar advisory questions this fall. Eleven are participating in the Illinois Separation campaign, while Ford County has introduced a separate proposal.
Since 2020, voters in 33 Illinois counties have approved similar advisory measures supporting discussions about separating from Cook County.
Supporters of the movement argue that residents outside the Chicago metropolitan area often feel their concerns and priorities are overlooked by state government.
Illinois Separation Director Loret Newlin has said the movement reflects growing frustration among residents who believe policies established in Springfield are heavily influenced by Chicago and Cook County.
Governor JB Pritzker has opposed the separation effort, describing it as a political stunt.
The proposal has also received attention in the Illinois General Assembly.
State Representative Brad Halbrook introduced a resolution in February 2025 calling for the creation of a new state consisting of Illinois’ 101 counties outside Cook County, along with communities within Cook County that wish to participate.
The resolution remains in the Illinois House Rules Committee.
Under the United States Constitution, establishing a new state from portions of an existing state would require approval from both the Illinois General Assembly and Congress.
The advisory referendums do not establish proposed boundaries, determine a new tax structure, or address how Illinois’ existing debt and assets would be divided.
Voters in Saline, Gallatin, and Hamilton counties will decide whether they support continuing discussions on the proposal when they head to the polls Tuesday, November 3.
Polls throughout Illinois will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day.