217 Today: Southwest Illinois voters to weigh split from Chicago county in secession vote

Voters in three southwestern Illinois counties will decide Tuesday whether to secede from Cook County and form a new county.

The nonbinding referendum is the culmination of years of frustration over what supporters say is Cook County's neglect of the region. They argue that the county has failed to adequately fund infrastructure, economic development, and public safety in the three counties.

Opponents of the secession movement say it would be a costly and disruptive process that would harm the region. They argue that the three counties are better off remaining part of Cook County, which provides them with a range of services and resources.

The referendum is being closely watched by other counties in Illinois that are considering secession from Cook County. If the referendum passes, it would be the first time in Illinois history that a county has seceded from another county.

The three counties voting on the referendum are Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair. The referendum will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2023.

If the referendum passes, the three counties would form a new county called "Jefferson County." The new county would have a population of about 300,000 people and would be the fourth-largest county in Illinois.

The secession movement has been gaining momentum in recent years. In 2020, the Madison County Board of Commissioners voted to put the referendum on the ballot. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners and the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners followed suit in 2021.

The outcome of the referendum is uncertain. A recent poll showed that 52% of voters in the three counties support secession, while 48% oppose it.

The referendum is expected to have a significant impact on the political landscape of Illinois. If the referendum passes, it would be a major blow to Cook County and could lead to other counties seceding from the county.