A group of lawyers from the Democratic stronghold of Tucson and surrounding Pima County have launched a petition drive seeking support for a November 2012 ballot question on whether the 48th state should be divided in two.

The ultimate goal of the newly formed political action committee Start our State is to split Pima County off into what would become the nation’s 51st state, tentatively dubbed Baja Arizona.

Backers have until July 5 next year to collect the 48,000 signatures required to qualify for a spot on the ballot. If they succeed, it would mark only the first hurdle in a long, circuitous process that even the most determined of supporters readily acknowledge has little chance of bearing fruit.

It’s SUPER tough to create a new state. It’s equally tough to secede. I can’t imagine the property law nightmares that would occur. Land assessments, housing grants, conservation easements, tax re-distribution, utility districts, federal parks, highway maintenance, river boundaries. <Hand smacks forehead> OMG! What a living hell for urban planners down there.

For Pima County to actually become its own state:

• Pima residents would have to approve of the move in a referendum.
• The state legislature would have to approve of it, or it could pass in a state-wide referendum.
• The United States Congress would have to approve it.

Source: The Atlantic