Indiana is taking steps to change its border with Illinois, a move that might seem surprising. Last week, the Indiana legislature passed a bill to create the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission. This commission will look into whether parts of Illinois could be added to Indiana.
Governor Mike Braun, a Republican, plans to sign the bill into law. Once he does, he has until September 1 to call the commission’s first meeting. This effort comes as some residents in certain Illinois counties want to separate from the heavily populated and Democratic-controlled Chicago area.
While there is support for the idea from Indiana’s government and some Illinois residents, the plan faces significant hurdles. Both the Illinois government and the U.S. Congress would need to approve any changes to state borders. Illinois officials, including Governor J.B. Pritzker, have expressed opposition to the proposal, calling it "a stunt."
In Illinois, a companion bill that would allow the state to join the commission has not been discussed in a House committee. This lack of progress indicates that the proposal may struggle to gain traction.
Historically, minor changes to state borders have happened before in the U.S., but significant changes have not occurred since the Civil War. The last major shift was when parts of Virginia broke away to form West Virginia.
The current push for boundary changes is driven by political divisions. The Chicago area is dominated by Democrats, while many other parts of Illinois, including Indiana, are represented by Republicans. This political landscape adds another layer of complexity to the proposed border adjustments.
In recent years, voters in 33 Illinois counties have shown interest in separating from Cook County, which includes Chicago. However, this does not necessarily mean they want to join Indiana if given the chance.
Similar movements are happening in other states, such as Oregon, where some counties want to leave and join Idaho. In Idaho, a measure to discuss this possibility was approved, but progress has stalled in Oregon’s legislature.
As Indiana moves forward with its plans, it faces both support and resistance. The outcome of this effort could have lasting implications for the region and its residents.