At the heart of Illinois, a division is being examined, not by lawmakers within ornate government chambers but by the citizenry amidst fields and family homes. Seven of the state’s counties have cast their ballots, signaling a desire to entertain the notion of embarking on a journey towards statehood – their own, separate from the Windy City’s expansive reach. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the counties that voted in favor of the exploration include Calhoun, Clinton, Green, Iroquois, Jersey, Madison, and Perry.