Madison County voters are one step closer to taking a symbolic vote on whether their county should separate from Chicago and Cook County to form a new state.
The Government Relations Committee of the Madison County Board on Tuesday approved a nonbinding advisory referendum 6-1 that asks voters if they should communicate with other counties outside Chicago about secession. The full board still needs to approve the referendum for it to be on the November ballot.
The committee鈥檚 actions possibly negated a requirement that supporters gather roughly 7,800 signatures 鈥� about 8% of the county鈥檚 turnout during the last gubernatorial election 鈥� to get the referendum in front of the county鈥檚 voters.
The vote was a win for secession proponents, who鈥檝e long argued downstate Illinois would be better off governing itself without Chicago鈥檚 political influence.
鈥淚t was a win for taxpayers in Madison County,鈥� said Dave Stopher of Troy, who鈥檚 long advocated for the referendum. 鈥淚t was a win for the citizens to be able to voice their opinion.鈥�
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The Metro East county became a key target for the Illinois Separation Referendum, the group behind secession, after the 2022 midterm elections. In that election, two townships on the eastern edge of the county voted in favor of separation.
So far, 26 downstate counties have approved symbolic votes, according to the group. In all, those counties include more than 476,000 people. Adding Madison County, population 264,000, to the list would be a major accomplishment for the group.
However, the vote would be purely symbolic and carry no true power. Proponents say it does send a signal, reflecting voters wishes' like a poll or survey. But other elected officials and political observers say that Congress would need to sign off on secession, which is highly unlikely.
County board member Alison Lamothe, D-Edwardsville, cast the lone no vote on Tuesday. Lamothe, one of two Democrats on the seven-member committee, said she objects to secession and doesn鈥檛 see the point of sending the question to voters.
鈥淭o me, a referendum like this, it鈥檚 not offering real solutions,鈥� Lamothe said. 鈥淩ather than offer solutions, it just, in my view, foments misperceptions.鈥�
Last fall, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul . The county does not have 鈥渢he authority to secede from the State of Illinois and join another state,鈥� Raoul鈥檚 legal opinion stated.
A county board member in Jersey County raised the possibility, and the Jersey County State鈥檚 Attorney, Benjamin Goetten, said he would reluctantly ask the state鈥檚 top attorney.
鈥淲hile I would have preferred my name not be on this opinion, I was directed that the request had to be made by the state鈥檚 attorney,鈥� Goetten said. 鈥淚n an effort to 鈥榩ut it to bed鈥� so to speak, the board chairman asked that I make the request.鈥�
Some Republican board members said Tuesday they wanted to amend the language of the referendum before the full board votes on it. Bethalto Republicans Mike Babcock and Mick Madison said they鈥檇 like to consider adding language that Madison County should join Missouri.
鈥淎t the end of the day, that鈥檚 not necessarily our goal,鈥� Stopher said of Madison鈥檚 suggestion. 鈥淗owever, that is a possible outcome further on down the road 鈥� several steps away.鈥�
But on Thursday, Madison said he鈥檇 forgo adding the Missouri amendment before the board meeting. He said he came to that conclusion after speaking with proponents.
鈥淭his is their issue. They have it written,鈥� Madison said. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 going to leave it as is.鈥�
Joining Missouri could still be an option down the road, he said.
Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler said the board will likely vote on its referendum at the next meeting, which is scheduled for April 17.
