NATIONAL ELECTION RETURNS : State-by-State Election Reports of Key Races and Issues : Illinois

SPRINGFIELD —  Early returns showed Illinois voters were split 50-50 on whether to hand 24 electoral votes to George Bush or Michael Dukakis from a critical swing state that has sided with the winner in all but two 20th century contests for the White House.

With 12% of the ballots counted, polls showed the Democratic governor with a narrow lead over the Republican vice president.

Illinois voters also decided whether to call a state constitutional convention to consider revising the charter adopted in 1970.

All nine Republican and 12 of the 13 Democratic representatives in the U.S. House faced opposition, including House Minority Leader Bob Michel. Democrat Cardiss Collins in the 7th District near Chicago was unoppposed.