Go vote!

**gilmore** · 5th November 08, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by hospitaller

Say what?

In many places in the US it is illegal to give a person anything of value in return for voting, regardless of how the person voted.

**Standard** · 5th November 08, 07:11 PM

My wife and I did our civic duty yesterday morning.

**auld argonian** · 5th November 08, 07:18 PM

My daughter pointed out a quotable election quote issued by our esteemed mayor, Richard M. Daley.

When asked by a reporter if he was concerned about voter apathy, he replied, "Well everybody is concerned about apathy."

Best

AA

**Carolina Kiltman** · 5th November 08, 08:07 PM

Did, yesterday got a bit hectic, didn't get home until late, sat up and watched the returns with a bottle Lismore. Haven't missed an election since Stevenson v/s Eisenhower. Wasn't kilted, pouring rain, yet nearly 70% of the registered voters voted! Wunnerful!

Now let's all pray for the winners, they are going to need all the help they can get!

**Cerebite** · 5th November 08, 09:14 PM

Voted in Colorado in the Colorado Tartan.
No waiting, lots of interest from the volunteers in the kilt.

**McClef** · 6th November 08, 04:05 AM

There is voting in the UK today - a by election in Glenrothes in Fife. This is due to the death of the sitting MP there.

With your fixed term election system in the US what happens if a Congressman or Senator dies in office? I think I heard that in the case of a Senator, the party whom they represented may nominate someone to sit, unelected, for the remainder of the term.

Just curious.

**BroosterB1** · 6th November 08, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

There is voting in the UK today - a by election in Glenrothes in Fife. This is due to the death of the sitting MP there.

With your fixed term election system in the US what happens if a Congressman or Senator dies in office? I think I heard that in the case of a Senator, the party whom they represented may nominate someone to sit, unelected, for the remainder of the term.

Just curious.

When a congressman (woman) or senator dies in office the exscutive of the state (usually Govenor) makes and interim appointment to the office. Depending on when the next election cycle is for that post a special election may be held to fill the seat, usually within 90 days.

Because this is handled on a state to state basis the rules differ. For example in Alaska an interim appointment senator will not stand for election until 2010. Here in New Mexico several years ago we had a congressman die in office, held a special election, then six months later held a regular general election for the same seat. The express purpose was to try to move the seat from one party to another, it didn't work.

Note it is the State Chief Executive who makes the interim appointment, not the political party, so it is very possible that the opposing party gets the interim seat.

**Cinnabar** · 8th November 08, 11:01 AM

Almost forgot about this but I made an all day trip back from work in Wyoming to vote here in Maryland and I did so in my kilt!

The poll worker asked me if I was there to make "a statement". To be honest I had no idea what she was talking about until she asked me about my sporran. Anyway, it was the first time I voted in a kilt and was very proud to do so.

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