Besides Mississippi voters rejecting a controversial anti-abortion measure, and upstate NY voters rejecting candidates with artsy nude photos, there were other big elections around the nation which gave a glimpse into the country's current mood. Ohio voters rejected an anti-labor law, Arizona voters recalled the extremist Tea Party-friendly state senator, and as a result, Democrats are starting to feel confidant again. more ›

Yesterday's low-key, low-turnout Election Day only provided a few hints toward the nation's mood going into the 2012 presidential election next year. Voters rejected many extreme right measures, while still denying the Democrats a chance to call the election a clear-cut victory. And among the things we learned: Staten Island voters like their incumbent DA, and upstate NY voters reject candidates with artsy nude photos. more ›

After a stressful few moments in the voting booth tomorrow, why not head home and unwind with a new vibrator in hand? Or not, prude. Anyway, as with their 2008 promotion, Babeland is offering up a silver bullet vibrator ($15 value) to anyone who votes in the election tomorrow (or anyone who lies about voting in the election tomorrow, really). Not a bad reward for simply fulfilling one's civic duty. Here's the deal: Visit their retail stores on election day and tell them you voted, or go online and type in the code “110210” at checkout. You'll take home one silver bullet, and the satisfying knowledge that Christine O'Donnell probably disapproves. more ›

Bloomberg made so many donations last year he can't even keep track of them all. Something shady is allegedly going on with one of them, a $750,000 contribution to the Independence Party, prompting Manhattan DA Cy Vance to investigate how the money was handled by a top aide and what exactly it was spent on. "We handed the money over to the Independence Party, and they have the full accounting, presumably, of how the money was spent," said Bloomberg's campaign lawyer Ken Gross. "The understanding was that the money was helping go to the party to pay for Election Day expenses such as poll watchers." more ›

It's Election Day and polls in NYC have been open since 6 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m. You can find your polling site here. more ›

It is shaping up to be a rather weak week for weather in New York. Today is looking cloudy and cool because a low pressure system way off to the southeast is providing easterly winds off the ocean. Look for a high in the mid 50s and the slight chance of light rain through the evening hours. more ›

Americans all over the country are heading to their polling places to cast their votes for President as well as a number of other races. Polls opened at 6 a.m. in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and they close at 8 p.m. in NJ and CT and at 9 p.m. in NY. more ›

Reminder! Now that you've done your civic duty and cashed in with free treats, head over to Babeland to pick up your Maverick sleeve (gentlemen) or Silver Bullet vibrator (ladies). We just talked to the shop, and with the stores only opened for a couple of hours, they've already had well over 200 people stop in asking for the toys. Get yours before it's too late! The three shop locations are at 462 Bergen Street in Brooklyn, and 94 Rivington Street and 43 Mercer Street in Manhattan (they'll each be handing them out through the 11th). So which gender is looking to spice up their election eve? Babeland tells us they're going at a pace of about 4-1, vibes to mavericks. more ›

Feeling cheated because you didn't get your "I Voted" sticker? We called up the Board of Elections to check in on this very important situation, and they told us they don't think New York City has ever handed out the little badges of civic duty. When's the last time you received one? Vote "yes" to bring them back in four years, but for now, you can make your own -- one Flickr user has provided a Hi-Res photo of her sticker, just print it out and tape it on! Over in DC, each jurisdiction has a different design! more ›

“No buttons. No posters. No leaflets. No. None.” That's the friendly reminder New Yorkers are getting from the city's Board of Elections in regards to showing your colors when you head to the polls this Tuesday. This doesn't just apply for your "I Support Joe the Plumber" contemporary shwag. A NY Times reader was asked to remove her four-decade-old “Lindsay for Mayor” button on a previous Election Day. And despite a brouhaha earlier this week over concern about the preparedness of the BOE, Mayor Bloomberg tells us he expects all systems to be a go come Tuesday. more ›

Hillary Clinton's campaign happily announced that the Senator from New York had raised $35 million during February, her best month ever. Adviser Harold Ickes used the news to accentuate the positive, "We have been through a dry period in the last eleven contests but we are about to start our upswing." Clinton is thrilled with the fundraising efforts, saying, "It’s incredibly gratifying to see people coming forward with their vote of confidence." She also said her $5 million personal loan to the campaign was not paid back. more ›

Governor Spitzer may back off his controversial plan to offer driver's licenses to illegal immigrants after weeks of bipartisan criticism. During a trip to San Juan, Puerto, Spitzer didn't quite rule out shelving the plan, acknowledging, "It's a tough issue." Spitzer's aides are apparently worried that the issue is preventing the governor "from advancing or even discussing other matters." The issue is disliked by voters, elected officials, and pundits all around - and also... more ›

Brushing aside the Staten Island Borough President's repeated criticism and endorsement of his opponent, Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan won re-election in a landslide over Democratic challenger Michael Ryan. Donovan, whose 51st birthday was also yesterday, said during the celebration, "Tonight, you guys made me real happy." The SI DA's race became unexpectedly contentious when SI Borough President James Molinaro, who Donovan worked under as a Deputy Beep and considered a friend, attacked Donovan's... more ›

It's Election Day, which means it's time for people to go to the polls. City offices and public schools are closed, and alternate side of the street parking is suspended, as are garbage and recycling pick-up. It's an optional state holiday; federal offices are open and there is mail delivery. While there aren't many big races, there are a few notable ones, namely the Staten Island District Attorney's race which pits incumbent Daniel Donovan (R)... more ›

MUSIC: If you haven't checked out the Summer of Love exhibit at the Whitney, head over there after work and get a double dose of rock while you're at it. Tonight Dirty Projectors and Lucky Dragons take the stage at Whitney Live. Get there early to get in. Check out this "Take Away Show" in New York featuring the Dirty Projectors. more ›

Governor Eliot Spitzer is cleaning house in Albany every which way. The latest thing to get the Steamroller Spruce Up? The state's I Love NY tourism campaign. Spitzer announced that advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi would work on the campaign - and that the "I Love NY" logo would not change. more ›

Yesterday, conservative Nicholas Sarkozy won the French presidential election over the Socialist Party's Segolene Royal (who was attempting to become France's first female president). Besides the violence that erupted, what we found interesting was the fact that voter turnout was 84% in France. more ›

One of the most bizarre City Council elections will be taking place tomorrow. Brooklyn's 40th District gets its second special election to fill the City Council seat vacated by Yvette Clarke, who was elected to Congress. The first special election took place in February, with Mathieu "The Haitian Sensation" Eugene, the Clarke-endorsed candidate, winning handily. more ›

The mayor is worth a staggering $13.6 billion - more than double the previously estimated $5.5 billion - according to Fortune magazine, and more than enough to make a run for the White House a veritable cakewalk for the self-financing politician.

There are special elections and extra special elections. Residents of Brooklyn's 40th Council District, includes Flatbush and Crown Heights, already voted in a special election and now they will be voting in an extra special election. more ›

Residency, schmediency! The historic City Council victory for Mathieu Eugene continues to be debated. Eugene, the first Haitian-American elected to City Council, won the election for the 40th District in Brooklyn, but didn't actually live in the district. Eugene had postponed the swearing-in on Thursday as he looked for an apartment (though Eugene's lawyer said the swearing-in was postponed because votes weren't certified). And he was apparently succesful, because the Times reports Eugene's now residing in the district he was elected to represent. more ›

Just after the victory of Mathieu Eugene’s 10-candidate run for Brooklyn’s 40th Council District on Tuesday, questions regarding his residency in the Flatbush district have now put his official claim to the seat on hold. Elected candidates must reside in the electing district during the time of the election, but not necessarily during the time of filing for nomination. There’s the rub. So today at City Hall, the expectations and celebrations of a political newcomer were met with a big halt as Dr. Eugene announced that he will not be sworn in until he has established residency. more ›

After Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver blocked Governor Pataki's Moynihan Station plans last October, we wondered how Governor Spitzer would take up the task and spar with Silver. To refresh your memory, Spitzer's problem with Pataki's Moynihan Station plans was that they were incomplete, given that developers had more extensive ideas about a Farley Post Office and Madison Square Garden revitalization (known as "plan B"); Pataki, on the other hand, wanted to get the plan A moving to take advantage of federal funds. more ›

On Election Day, Alan Hevesi won re-election for State Comptroller, in spite of news that he used a state driver to chauffeur his wife for many years. This tidbit, offered by Republican challenger Christopher Callaghan, prompted: 1) A State Ethics Commission report that found Hevesi did violate state law; 2) For many Democrats, including Eliot Spitzer, to drop their endorsements; and 3) Governor Pataki to request an investigation on whether Hevesi should be removed. But now Hevesi says he plans to serve his full four-year term because he was voted by such a large margin of voters. Now what? more ›

Though canvassing is still being done in Virginia in the Senate race between Republican incumbent George Allen and Democrat challenger Jim Webb, the AP and other news organizations named Webb the winner, with his narrow margin of 7,000 votes over Allen. And the Democrats seized that news excitedly. The NY Times reports Senator Charles Schumer, who headed the Democratic campaign to take back Senate seats, as saying,"It is virtually 100 percent that Webb is going to win the race. I think you can say without any hesitancy or doubt that Democrats are going to be the majority party in the Senate." more ›

Hilarious: The NY Times' election blog, The Empire Zone, reports that Chelsea Clinton's name wasn't found in the book of registered voters at the West 20th Street polling place: "The book containing her name was apparently forwarded to the wrong district, denying her the ability to enter a polling booth." D'oh! So she - and probably the other people in that book - had to fill out an "affidavit vote," ensuring that she would be able to participate in the democratic process. The Daily Politics found out that some Manhattan voters got old 2005 affidavit ballots - one for last year's Mayoral race. There's nothing like voting day in NYC! But at least potential voters aren't being threatened with arrest. more ›

The polls are open and it's time for you to cast your votes for the various races. Find your voting place here or call 311; report concerns about voting fraud to 1-866-VOTE NYC. Here's the Guide for the Last Minute Voter from Gotham Gazette. more ›

Tomorrow is Election Day! There are many big elections this year, so if you haven't thought about how you're voting, we highly recommend Gotham Gazette's Guide For The Last Minute Voter, 2006 General Election to understand the candidates and issues. Many races seem like runaways (Governor, Senate), but the State Comptroller race is in play, as are some Congressional races; you may also be able to vote for State Assembly races. And there are also civil and supreme court judge elections - the guide links to the state Bar Association's voter's guide. more ›

1. A girl was shot after a community center Halloween party on Saturday - and there may be a link to the Chicken Noodle rappers
2. From Upper East Side mansion to 7 World Trade Center: The Academy of the Sciences have moves downtown
3. Fun fact: 73% of the city's registered domestic partnerships are for straight couples
4. Alan Hevesi is persona-non-grata the Democrats' Election Day party... politics is so like high school!
5. Buy your own CBGB's chairs on eBay:
6. Le Cirque and Hawaiian Tropic Zone have really good publicists, given the ink they get... and why aren't we surprised that Mets hottie David Wright would be at Hawaiian Tropic Zone?
7. NBC might be a one-show-about-sketch-comedy network, as it could be axing Studio 60
8. The Knicks waive Jalen Rose... it's too early to say anything about season's Knicks team, but they've gotta be better than last season's (maybe they'll just have the second worst season ever)