31.   A sharp spike in New England fuel oil prices before the New Hampshire primary, seemed to have had relatively little impact on how people voted.

32.   After all, the people had voted for it.

33.   All politicians have a special responsibility because the people have voted them into office.

34.   But Clay Roberts, director of the state Division of Elections, has said people can vote absentee for any reason at all.

35.   But he has to get people to vote for him.

36.   But I know people will vote for whatever reason they have.

37.   But for now, people are still voting with their feet, running into Fairfax at a blistering pace.

38.   But in this election more people voted for Al Gore than for Bush.

39.   But people can vote until they drop dead, and may voice their disapproval at the polling booth.

40.   But people vote because they like to participate in a collective ritual.