# Is Ted Stevens toast? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 21, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851 "2008-10-21T03:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/201 "2008-11-13T16:32:39Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I predict that Nate Silver has a VERY financially comfortable decade or so in front of him. EVERY network, cable and broadcast, is going to be clamoring for him to sign with them before 2010. [Randall Munroe (xkcd)](http://xkcd.com/500/): > [@](#): > > Someday I’ll be rich enough to hire Nate Silver to help make all my life decisions. ‘Should I sleep with her?’ ‘Well, I’m showing a 35% chance it will end badly.’ ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/202 "2008-11-13T16:54:09Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > We haven’t heard the last of Ted Stevens (shakes gnarled fist)! HULK SMASH! Hulk also sue for recount. Hulk not proud. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/203 "2008-11-13T18:44:31Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > In Alaska, they’re doing the impossible, then. I’ve no idea what you’re going on about, but [here](http://www.adn.com/elections/senate/story/587414.html) is the article in today’s paper. > [@](#): > > Begich, who was losing after election night, now leads Stevens by 814 votes – 132,196 to 131,382 – **with the state still to count roughly 40,000 more ballots over the next week**. and: > [@](#): > > Most regional elections headquarters will count their remaining ballots on Friday. **But the most populous region, based in Anchorage, won’t count its ballots until either Monday or Wednesday** , state elections chief Gail Fenumiai said. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/204 "2008-11-15T02:49:45Z")
Anything new on the Tedster? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/205 "2008-11-15T03:07:56Z")
The Wasilla vote was counted today. Ted’s behing by [814 votes](http://www.elect.alaska.net/data/results.htm). ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/206 "2008-11-15T03:08:46Z")
[http://www.adn.com/front/story/589416.html](http://www.adn.com/front/story/589416.html) > [@](#): > > Mark Begich has extended his lead over Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens to 1,022 votes with the latest count of absentee and questioned ballots. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/207 "2008-11-15T17:06:50Z")
I’m seeing a glimmer of hope here. The largest block of votes to be counted are from Anchorage and Juneau. Anchorage split in the general election and Juneau always goes blue. We’ll know by Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/208 "2008-11-15T19:33:36Z")
How the hell can it take so long to count that few votes? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/209 "2008-11-15T19:39:16Z")
If you read votes too quickly in Alaska, your fingertip gets blisters? I dunno. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/210 "2008-11-15T19:47:47Z")
If they used their toes, they could double the speed. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/211 "2008-11-15T21:09:24Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > How the hell can it take so long to count that few votes? I’ve answered this fucking question at least twice already in this thread. STATE STATUTE REQUIRES SPECIFIC WAITING PERIODS TO ALLOW FOR REMOTE AREAS TO GET THEIR BALLOTS TO THE POLLING CENTERS. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/212 "2008-11-15T21:32:08Z")
Yes, and seriously: just to inject a little reality, Alaska is [bigass](http://www.uaf.edu/asgp/k12/birds_eye_view/ch2/story2-3.htm). It is metric bigass. In between the bigass is a lot of empty space, mountains, snow, rivers, ice, and bears. Note, however, that I didn’t say **roads** connecting one end of the bigass to the other — if you add up all the miles of interstate highway in Alaska, it’s fewer total miles than I-5 alone (from southern California to the Canadian border). The state capital _is not accessible by road._ In the scope of bridges to nowhere, Alaska has a lot more nowhere than bridges. For reference, Alaska is the size of Texas, California, Montana and Kansas put together, with room left over for Rhode Island and the District of Columbia … but it has the population of Vermont. In addition, some of the ballots being counted must be checked: some people sent in an absentee ballot and _also voted in person_, so many ballots are being questioned before being counted. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/213 "2008-11-15T22:32:45Z")
One other possible factor (that I couldn’t verify on the Division of Elections website): Alaska may have the same standard as the SoW, namely that a mail ballot must be _postmarked_ on election day, but does not have to be _received_ then. Given the conditions that **Fish** alluded to, it would make sense. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/214 "2008-11-16T00:17:56Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > One other possible factor (that I couldn’t verify on the Division of Elections website): Alaska may have the same standard as the SoW, namely that a mail ballot must be _postmarked_ on election day, but does not have to be _received_ then. Given the conditions that **Fish** alluded to, it would make sense. Even if state law doesn’t say that, I believe federal law requires all military absentee ballots postmarked by election day to be counted. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/215 "2008-11-16T01:04:16Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > One other possible factor (that I couldn’t verify on the Division of Elections website): Alaska may have the same standard as the SoW, namely that a mail ballot must be _postmarked_ on election day, but does not have to be _received_ then. Given the conditions that **Fish** alluded to, it would make sense. Correct. The drop dead date is the 19th, I believe. Ballots from villages have to be transported by bush plane to either Nome, Fairbanks, Anchorage or Juneau. With the weather what it is up here, planes can be delayed for considerable periods. I remember a few years ago when supplies didn’t reach some coastal areas for nearly two months. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/216 "2008-11-16T01:07:20Z")
Canada counts their votes in hours. It is bigger and has remote places too. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/217 "2008-11-16T16:18:19Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > canada counts their votes in hours. It is bigger and has remote places too. state fucking law!!! ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/218 "2008-11-16T16:51:58Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > STATE STATUTE REQUlRES SPECIFIC WAITING PERIODS TO ALLOW FOR REMOTE AREAS TO GET THEIR BALLOTS TO THE POLLING CENTERS. WOULD MORE BRIDGES HELP? DOES ALASKA NEED MORE BRlDGES? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/219 "2008-11-16T17:01:53Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > WOULD MORE BRIDGES HELP? DOES ALASKA NEED MORE BRlDGES? A series of inter-island bridges in the Aleutians would be nice…or even a series of tubes… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/220 "2008-11-16T17:16:42Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > state fucking law!!! Canada has laws too, I bet. Just as big and remote as Alaska’s. But I guess they’d be provincial laws, not state laws. Or Federal. Or is it Dominion? I don’t know about the ‘fucking’ part though. I like bridges. Tubes, not so much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851.md?page=12)