IF Stevens steps down ...

[ronnykmarshall]

What would happen with the election in Alaska?

[WeDidIt]

1. No change

Twould be the same. Too late to remove his name. They'd have to mount a write-in for somebody else and that ain't gonna work.

[Jersey Devil]

2. Too late. Ballots are already printed

The only thing they could do is have a write in candidate. My daughter (and I presume lots of other Alaskans), who votes in Alaska, already sent back her absentee ballot so I can't imagine they would reprint ballots to change names at this point even if state law allowed it.

[TexasProgresive]

6. I thought that Alaska has a new law requiring a special

election in 90 days- since the last corrupt governor appointed his daughter as senator (to replace himself?).

[Jersey Devil]

7. Tuesday's election is for the full 6 yr term beginning January

Sure they could have a special election for the remainder of Stevens' term if he resigns, but that would expire in January.

[liberal N proud]

3. He isn't going to step down

[jljamison]

5. ironically...

if he were to resign today, but win his reelection bid next week, he would then become a senator again in january.

if he steps down again, then Governor Palin gets to appoint his successor. She could even technically appoint herself to the Senate.

His losing his reelection solves the problem, however.

[ashling]

4. Palin could appoint a Senator to hold office until January

perhaps Todd?

:rofl:

[ProgressiveEconomist]

8. Wouldn't AK Rs have to designate a replacement for Stevens, as happened when Mark Foley

had to "turn a Page" and resign his FL House seat just before an election?

If any incumbent who feared defeat could resign at the last minute to cancel an election, wouldn't we see this phenomenon EVERY election year?

From http://www.washingtontimes.com/elections/state/FL/ :

"Democrat Tim Mahoney ... won the District 16 seat vacated by disgraced Republican Rep. Mark Foley. Foley resigned just before the election after it was disclosed he had sent suggestive electronic messages to teenage congressional pages. Foley's resignation came too late to remove his name from the ballot, but his votes went to a replacement candidate, former state Rep. Joe Negron ...."