The Illinois State Board of Elections voted Monday to move an effort to reform legislative redistricting one more step closer to Illinois voters. The board officially validated hundreds of thousands of signatures on petitions for the so-called Independent Map Amendment. It would take legislative redistricting out of the hands of the Illinois General Assembly and into the those of an independent, non-partisan commission. Illinois Farm Bureau Vice President David Erickson serves on the board of the Independent Maps Amendment coalition;



Opponents have filed a lawsuit claiming the measure is unconstitutional. The Farm Bureau's Erickson says he and other Independent Maps board members believe it stands a good chance of holding up in court.