(CNN) -- The Connecticut Senate on Thursday voted to repeal the death penalty, setting the stage for Connecticut to join several states that have recently abolished capital punishment. 

In the last five years, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Illinois have repealed the death penalty. California voters will decide the issue in November. 

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where it is also expected to pass. Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, has vowed to sign the measure into law should it reach his desk, his office said. 

"For everyone, it's a vote of conscience," said Senate President Donald Williams Jr., a Democrat who says he's long supported a repeal. "We have a majority of legislators in Connecticut in favor of this so that the energies of our criminal justice system can be focused in a more appropriate manner." 

In 2009, state lawmakers in both houses tried to pass a similar bill, but were ultimately blocked by then-Gov. Jodi Rell, a Republican. 

Capital punishment has existed in Connecticut since its colonial days. But the state was forced to review its death penalty laws beginning in 1972 when a Supreme Court decision required greater consistency in its application. A moratorium was then imposed until a 1976 court decision upheld the constitutionality of capital punishment. 

Since then, Connecticut juries have handed down 15 death sentences. Of those, only one person has actually been executed, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonpartisan group that studies death penalty laws. 

Michael Ross, a convicted serial killer, was put to death by lethal injection in 2005 after giving up his appeals. 
Who was executed in Connecticut after 1976?
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Who voted on Thursday?
To do what?
Who will vote next?
What states already have?
When will the next state choose?
Who will vote in Connecticut next?
Is it going to be successful?
Where will it go next?
What will he do?
What party is he?
Who stopped the previous bill?
What party?
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Michael Ross,
Michael Ross, a convicted serial killer, was put to death by lethal injection in 2005 after giving up his appeals.
by lethal injection
 was put to death by lethal injection in 2005 after giving up his appeals.
in 2005
 in 2005 after giving up his appeals.
The Connecticut Senate
-- The Connecticut Senate on Thursday voted
to repeal the death penalty
voted to repeal the death penalty, 
California
California voters will decide the issue in November. 

New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Illinois
In the last five years, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Illinois have repealed the death penalty.
in November.
California voters will decide the issue in November.
the House of Representatives,
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, 
it is expected to
where it is also expected to pass.
Gov. Dannel Malloy
Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, has vowed to sign the measure into law should it reach his desk, his office said. 

sign the bill
 has vowed to sign the measure into law should it reach his desk, his office said. 
a Democrat
Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat
Jodi Rell
Jodi Rell, a Republican. 

Republican.
 Jodi Rell, a Republican. 

15
Since then, Connecticut juries have handed down 15 death sentences.