Southwestern Illinois Voters Consider Secession from Cook County

Cook County has been burdened with a lot of serious problems like violence, taxes, and corruption. Voters may welcome the chance to secede.

Voters in southwestern Illinois will decide whether to secede from Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago in a March 2023 primary election. They will vote on a non-binding referendum to gauge support for the idea of splitting the county in two. The push for secession has been building for years, as residents of the region have grown increasingly frustrated with the problems plaguing Cook County. The main frustrations include violent crime, high taxes, and corruption.

The movement gained momentum in 2021 when a group of suburban Republican lawmakers introduced a bill in the Illinois General Assembly that would have created a new county called “Southwest Illinois.” The bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Undeterred, supporters of secession began collecting signatures to put the issue on the ballot. Secession proponents argue that the new county would be better able to address the unique needs of the region. They say that Cook County is too large and diverse, and that the needs of the suburbs are often ignored by the Chicago-dominated county government.

Opponents of secession argue that it would be a costly and disruptive process. They say that it would lead to higher taxes and a decrease in services. Cook County’s leaders have also come out against secession, arguing that it would damage the region’s economy.

The outcome of the referendum is uncertain. A recent poll found that a majority of voters in southwestern Illinois support the idea of secession. However, it is unclear whether that support will translate into votes at the ballot box. If the referendum passes, it will send a strong message to the Illinois General Assembly that the people of southwestern Illinois are serious about secession.

The secession movement in southwestern Illinois is part of a larger trend of suburban areas seeking to break away from urban centers. In recent years, similar movements have taken place in California, Texas, and other states. The trend is being driven by a number of factors, including rising crime rates, increasing taxes, and a growing sense of alienation from urban governments.

It remains to be seen whether the secession movement in southwestern Illinois will be successful. However, the referendum is a significant step in the process. If it passes, it could lead to the creation of a new county and a new chapter in the history of Illinois.