DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – Some Oregon residents are petitioning to leave the state due to its liberal policies, but they aren’t planning to move. Instead, they want to move the border with Idaho westward.
The “Greater Idaho” group is pushing to get enough signatures to put it on the ballot in November.
“Rural counties have become increasingly outraged by laws coming out of the Oregon Legislature that threaten our livelihoods, our industries, our wallet, our gun rights, and our values,” said Mike McCarter, one of the group’s chief petitioners, in a press release. “We tried voting those legislators out but rural Oregon is outnumbered and our voices are now ignored. This is our last resort.”
Petitions have been filed in two counties so far. Proponents say they only need to collect about 3,000 signatures from Douglas County. Nearby Josephine County would require more than 2,400 signatures.
Officials say they plan to file petitions in more states soon. If the group has its way, only 14 of Oregon's 36 counties would remain.
But even if local voters approved moving the state line, there are still more hurdles. Both the Idaho and Oregon legislatures would have to approve. And then, it would still require an act of Congress to finalize.
CNN contributed to this report.
