Saline County voters back talks on splitting from Chicago to form a new state. Here's what actually changes

Saline County voters have said yes to their county board talking with other counties about leaving Chicago's Cook County behind and forming a new state, according to unofficial results reported by NBC Chicago.

With all precincts reporting, the measure passed in Saline County with 71.82% of the vote, 5,382 to 2,112, according to unofficial results from NBC Chicago. The results are not yet official.

What did people actually vote on?

The question on the Saline County ballot asked whether the county board should "correspond with the boards of the other counties of Illinois outside of Cook County about the possibility of seperating [sic] from Cook County to form a new state," WPSD reported. The misspelling is on the ballot itself.

Voters could answer yes or no.

So is Harrisburg leaving Illinois?

No. Not now, and not on its own.

The question is nonbinding. A yes vote does not change state lines, taxes or how government works, WFIW reported.

Creating a new state out of part of Illinois would need approval from the Illinois General Assembly and from Congress under the U.S. Constitution, according to KBSI.

How did other counties vote?

Elsewhere on Tuesday, according to NBC Chicago's results:

• Hamilton County: 79.65% yes (2,521 to 644)
• Washington County: 75.58% yes

Eleven counties voted on the idea on Tuesday, and all 11 said yes, according to unofficial results reported by NBC Chicago. Illinois Separation says 33 counties had already backed it in earlier elections.

Who's behind it?

Illinois Separation director Loret Newlin told WPSD that 33 Illinois counties had already voted in favor of similar questions.

She said the aim is to find out whether people want to discuss the idea.

"Number one, we are not trying to join Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin," Newlin said.

"We aren't trying to separate from America. This is not a civil war that we're trying to start."

What do state leaders say?

Gov. JB Pritzker has called the effort a "stunt," and Attorney General Kwame Raoul has questioned whether such a move would be legal, NBC Chicago reported.

A resolution filed by state Rep. Brad Halbrook in February 2025, calling for a new state made of the 101 counties outside Cook County, is still sitting in the Illinois House Rules Committee, WFIW reported.

What it means for you

For now, nothing changes. The vote does not alter state lines, taxes or how government works, WFIW reported.

Even if more counties keep saying yes, forming a new state would likely take years, if not decades, WPSD reported.

These are unofficial results. We'll update this story once Saline County certifies the official numbers.