Eleven of Colorado’s 64 counties are expected to vote Tuesday on proposals to secede from the state, the Denver Post reported.

The secession movement gained traction there this summer, when county commissioners from rural areas met to draw up plans for a 51st state they called “North Colorado.”

The 51st state initiative is rooted in the divide between Colorado’s rural population and the state legislature in Denver. Those counties that are considering secession have been put off by state lawmakers’ support for policies like stricter gun control and raising renewable energy standards.

Any effort for the counties to secede from the state would first require voter approval, followed by a green light from the state legislature, the governor and U.S. Congress. Critics of the secession initiative point out that it’s unlikely lawmakers would approve the split.

Image via shutterstock / spirit of america