By Steven Spencer
Calhoun voters will see a referendum on the November ballot about the separation of Illinois from Cook County.
The referendum was originally presented to the Calhoun Commissioners this summer. At the time, the board decided not to make a motion to include the question of separation on the ballot but said if enough petition signatures were gathered the referendum would be included.
Residents told the board in June that they don’t feel adequately represented by the state and wanted to include the separation referendum.
With enough signatures gathered, Calhoun will be joining other counties like Jersey and Madison and asking the question to voters:
“Shall the board of Calhoun County correspond with other boards of Illinois, outside of Cook County, about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state and to seek admission to the Union as such, subject to the approval of the people?”
