Today's special election

The special election in the 48th Senate District (the Oswego area, as well as Jefferson-St. Lawrence counties) may help determine who controls the state Senate. The Times Union writes on its blog:

Here's a photo, at approximately 3 pm, of part of the vast underground parking lots at the state Capitol complex. The Legislature is in session, and rarely are so many open spaces available in one place. The reason? I’m told its due to the scores of Senate staffers who are up in the 48th SD campaigning for their respective candidates.

It is not unusual in the Capitol for staffers to "volunteer" to work on special elections around the state. At least one wag in the Capitol calls this the politicians' version of public funding of political campaigns.