SPRINGFIELD - Illinois officially joined the drive Monday to elect presidents using the popular vote, but any changes could be a long way off.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a plan agreeing to use national vote results in presidential elections, rather than the long-used Electoral College system. Lawmakers had already approved, and Illinois became the third state to agree to change its ways.

The law, however, won't take effect unless many other states also agree. For election rules to change, states with electoral votes totaling 270 would have to approve first.

The addition of Illinois to two other states makes 46 votes. Barry Fadem, president of the California group pushing the change, said getting a big state on board is a positive step.

"Illinois is a very important state, as far as we're concerned," Fadem said.

The Electoral College selects a president based on who wins individual states. The process gained prominent attention in the 2000 presidential election when Democrat Al Gore won the most votes nationwide, but President Bush won because of Electoral College totals.

This year, the sometimes-complicated presidential primary election process has drawn scrutiny as Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue a long race for the party's nomination.

Nevertheless, Fadem says his group doesn't plan on tackling that process even if their general election plan works out.

"That's all we're going to handle," he said. "I'll let someone else handle the primary election."

This legislation is House Bill 1685.

mike.riopell@lee.net