There's a misconception in the press and here on the site about the appointment process were Ted Stevens be forced to leave the Senate.
I've heard the bobbly head network pundits even make the mistake.
I'm not sure if this has been diaried yet, but read below the fold to see the pertinent laws.
From a NewsDaily article:
Stevens will remain on the ballot whether he steps down or not but there is a debate over what happens if he were to win and then resign his seat, which would force a special election 60 to 90 days from the time the vacancy occurs.
Alaska's Division of Elections said the governor would make a temporary appointment to hold the seat until a new senator is chosen by special election.
Proponents of a citizen initiative passed in 2004 said that measure stripped the governor of the right to make Senate appointments. The initiative was passed after then Gov. Frank Murkowski appointed his daughter Lisa to the Senate seat he vacated to become governor.
Full Story
The following is a link to the text of the ballot measure which was passed by Alaskans in 2004:
Link
Here's a pertinent quote from the text of the ballot measure:
The people, not the Governor, should fill a United States
Senate vacancy.
The idea that the people have the right to choose who
represents them in a legislative body is as old as
democracy itself. In the long history of the world, people
have fought for this right and people have died for this
right.
You, the citizens of the State of Alaska, now have the
power to decide this important issue for yourselves;
here, at the ballot box.