Voters favor state recall amendment

If Illinoisans someday decide they don't like their governor, they'll be able kick him (or her) out of office.

Voters Tuesday approved amending the Illinois Constitution to give themselves recall powers. The proposal won with almost 66 percent approving after 97 percent of votes were counted, according to unofficial totals. The measure needed 60 percent approval from people voting on the question.

After Rod Blagojevich's impeachment, some lawmakers proposed giving voters recall powers. Recall was one of a number of reforms inspired by Blagojevich, but the only one that needed voter approval.

Recall was famously used in California in 2003, when voters tossed Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. Using recall in Illinois won't be simple, though.

Kicking a governor out would require about 500,000 signatures and approval from lawmakers before the question could make it to the ballot.