CHICAGO – Emboldened by recent victories at the polls and what they see as rapidly shifting attitudes in favor of gay rights, supporters say Illinois is ready to become the next state to allow same-sex marriage – although they acknowledge it won’t be easy, even with Democratic majorities in Springfield.

Voters in four states either supported gay marriage or opposed a ban on it on Election Day – a sweep that state Rep. Greg Harris, the prime sponsor of a bill introduced in the Illinois House, said represents “a sea change” in public opinion. Those results, along with recent polling that shows support among an increasing number of Illinois voters, has Harris and other advocates counting votes and trying to determine not if legislation could get passed but how soon.

The earliest anything could happen is during the veto session that starts next week or the waning days of the post-election lame-duck session in early January. Or, supporters could wait until after the new session starts Jan. 9 – when Democrats will have supermajorities in the House and the Senate and a governor who has said he would sign the bill into law.