According to the craigslist event, this will not be a traditional protest with signs and banners.  Rather, participants have received emails telling them where and when to show up and what to do.  They'll either stand still or have a silent dance party, when a large group gathers to dance to tunes from their portable music devices.  And of course they'll be wearing green.

We Love DC has posted the locations of the different flash mobs.  Each one will last 1-2 hours at 5 locations throughout Northwest.  They are expected to assemble quickly so keep an eye out for mobs of emerald-clad activists this afternoon.

With the D.C. House Voting Rights Act set to hit the Senate floor early next week, and with House consideration likely not far behind, things are looking up enough that LL can ask the question: What happens after the bill becomes law?

Well, Eleanor Holmes Norton isn't magically transformed from delegate into full-fledged congresswoman.

As Norton told Bruce DePuyt on his show last Friday, an election will have to be held to elect a representative: "There has to be a special election, and I do not know how that will occur, " she told DePuyt. "This is another office, a new office created by the house for two jurisdictions."

She added that she has talked to D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray about planning for such circumstances. Gray's office had no comment, but LL is told that the council's general counsel has been investigating the mechanics of electing a representative.

Some of the issues at stake: Before a special election could be held, District election laws will have to be changed, abolishing the elections for congressional delegate and shadow representative and creating an election for member of congress. There is some question over whether Congress can amend those laws, or whether the Council must do so itself; the current Senate version of the DCHVRA includes language that would amend District law along those lines.

Then there's the question of what would happen in the interim period between when the DCHVRA is signed and the results of a special election are certified. The council could decide to leave the office vacant, automatically appoint the delegate for the interim period, or give the mayor the power to appoint an interim representative.

But all of these questions could very well turn out to be moot.

As soon as the bill is signed, it's widely expected that several parties will attempt to challenge its constitutionality.

Who exactly? To be determined.

Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University who has repeatedly testified to the unconstitutionality of the DCHRVA and other bills like it, says that while federal courts have made it increasingly difficult in recent decades to challenge government decisions, it's hard to imagine a court not granting legal standing to a challenge in this case.

"There's an array of potential litigants," he says, including District residents, members of Congress, residents of other states. "My expectation is that at least one group of those plaintiffs will be found to have standing. It will be very hard for Congress to say that it can change the structure of the institution with no judicial review."

Once a judge grants standing, Turley says, he will likely order an injunction preventing any newly minted representative from being seated until the legal matters are sorted out. His prediction: "I don't think a court would have much difficulty finding this unconstitutional."

With an injunction in place, and the legality of the DCHVRA up in the air, it would make little sense for the council to spend the time and money to hold a special election.

In other words, don't hold your breath, Eleanor.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

The agency has been in the news in a bad way in recent months, for botching vote counts on the night of the District primary in September, then by taking forever to get any results out after the Nov. 4 general election.

The agency's been under the direction of interim executive director Sylvia Goldsberry-Adams since Alice Miller left the board's employ last May to take a job at the federal Elections Assistance Commission.

The requirements: "Advanced degree in policy administration and/or law preferred; work experience in governmental organization(s) and election processes; and comprehensive background in election administration, organizational development, administration and supervision. Applicant should possess the ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms."

It's Travelgate Palin-Style. Wink. According to a CBS News report:

"Alaska Governor and Republican Vice President hopeful Sarah Palin may be facing another round of scrutiny, this time for charging the state for her children to travel with her while conducing official state business.

CBS News has obtained a copy of the complaint that Frank Gwartney, a retired lineman in Anchorage filed last Friday, with Alaska’s Attorney General, Talis Colber in Juneau. 'Palin ran on the platform of ethics, transparency and anti-corruption. I’m tired of the hypocrisy that exists in Government and people need to know the truth,' said Gwartney."

"The complaint against Governor Palin, alleges Misuse of Official Position: 'Gov. Palin attempted to and in fact did use her official position for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits for her daughters...' All the allegations contained in the complaint are related to state reimbursed travel.

In Alaska, ethics complaints filed against the Governor are confidential. 'We can neither confirm nor refute that a complaint has been filed against Governor Sarah Palin. Any complaint remains confidential unless the person being charged waives confidentiality or if the complaint progresses to the state of probable cause,' Assistant District Attorney, Dave Jones told CBS News."