New Paltz, New York, held an election on November 4 for member of the Town Board. No one appeared on the ballot, but three candidates competed as write-in candidates. Elections officials were not able to determine a winner until two weeks after the election. On November 19, the Board of Elections was finally able to announce the vote for the three write-in candidates: Jeff Logan (Democratic nominee) 519 write-ins; Bob Hughes (independent Democrat) 487; Brittany Turner (Green) 122.

Logan had expected to be on the ballot, but he submitted his petition too late. After public awareness that he would be a write-in candidate, the other two also decided to launch write-in campaigns. Here is a New York Times story about the race, which highlights all the problems that mechanical voting machines present for voters who wish to cast a write-in vote.

The Green Party is focused on Louisiana’s late U.S. House election, to be held in the 2nd district on Saturday, December 6. See this story at Green Party Watch. The Green candidate, Malik Rahim, is running against incumbent Democrat William Jefferson, Republican Joseph Cao, Libertarian Gregory Kahn, and independent Jerry Jacobs. Rahim is very well-known in New Orleans, and Congressman Jefferson is under an ethics cloud.

Most of the U.S. election returns for President and Congress were generally anticipated by polls. The more surprising outcomes around the November 2008 election may have been the outcome of state legislative races, especially in Tennessee. Republicans captured a majority in the State House of Representatives for the first time ever, something that had not been expected.

The old House had been Democratic 53-46; the new House is Republican by a single vote, 50-49. Because the Republicans already had control of the State Senate, and they kept that control, they are now in a position to replace the Secretary of State. In Tennessee, Secretary of State is not an elected position; the legislature chooses.

According to this newspaper story, a key element in the Republicans’ control of the House was their victory in the 2nd district, in northeastern Tennessee. According to this story, the fact that Senator McCain campaigned there, whereas Barack Obama did not campaign in Tennessee during the general election campaign, may have been dispositive.

Long-time ballot access reform advocate Donna Rowland, a Republican house member, was re-elected to her seat in the 34th district.