SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers want to give voters the chance to recall the governor.

After more than a year of fighting and posturing, the Illinois Senate voted 56-1 Thursday to ask voters if they want to change the state constitution to allow removal of the governor if enough voters demand it.

The measure would be placed on the November 2010 ballot for voter approval. It would become law if approved by 60 percent of the voters.

The concept gained steam last year in the run-up to the eventual impeachment of disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The measure, which was already approved in the House, was a key issue for Blagojevich's successor, Gov. Pat Quinn.

Quinn appeared on the Senate floor after the vote to applaud its passage and said he's been working for recall for 33 years.

"Now it's up to the people," Quinn said.

If approved by voters in November, Illinois would join 18 other states that allow recall elections, including California, which booted former Gov. Gray Davis and replaced him with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003 under the process.

Although it would be a first for Illinoisans, the recall process outlined in the proposal wouldn't be easy.

The proposed legislation, for example, requires that a bipartisan group of 30 lawmakers sign off on the idea before a citizens petition drive can get under way. It would need the signatures of 15 percent of the voters in the most recent gubernatorial election, estimated at about 350,000 signatures. At least 100 signatures each would have to come from 25 different counties.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, cast the lone "no" vote.

He said special interest groups with an axe to grind against a governor could lead the way on a recall effort.

"It's the wrong way to go," Jacobs said.

State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, chided his colleagues for waiting until after Blagojevich was ousted to approve the measure.

"This is kind of like watching a rerun, because all of the work has already been done," said Righter, who voted in favor of the resolution.

Quinn, who was elevated to be governor after Blagojevich was removed from office, was clearly pleased.

"This is the ultimate ethics measure," Quinn said.

The legislation is House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 31.