Washington  - The lower body of the Illinois state legislature voted overwhelmingly Friday to impeach Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was accused last month of trying to sell president- elect Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat.

The House of Representatives voted 114-1 to send the case to a trial in the state Senate, where, if convicted, Blagojevich will be stripped of his power and removed from office. A special committee in the House voted unanimously to impeach Blagojevich on Thursday.

Blagojevich was arrested outside his home on December 9 on a wide array of corruption charges, including using his sole power to replace Obama in the US Senate to attempt to solicit bribes from potential candidates.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted in a federal court.

Obama resigned from his seat after winning the presidential election and has joined other Democrats and Republicans in calling on Blagojevich to resign.

Federal court documents say that Blagojevich was recorded in wire- tapped telephone conversations repeatedly stating his intent to gain personal benefits, such as money or a high-paid labour union job, in exchange for granting the Senate post, calling it "golden."

Blagojevich, 52, has promised to fight the charges against him and has steadfastly refused to resign or relinquish his power to appoint a new senator.

On December 30, Blagojevich named one of the state's former top law enforcement officer, Roland Burris, to the US Senate.

Burris, 71, has been accused of no wrongdoing but Senate Democrats have refused to seat him until the appointment is settled in court. An Illinois court is hearing a case to determine if Burris can take the seat without the certification of state secretary Jesse Owens, who has refused to sign the document. (dpa)