The vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court will begin now, at 3:00 PM.
The tally of votes: 68 in favor, 31 against. All sixty members of the majority and nine Republicans have announced their support of the nomination, but Sen. Kennedy cannot show up due to illness.
Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), who has been absent for nearly all of the last three months, is to be wheeled in to cast his vote.
Senator Al Franken (D-MN) is presiding over the proceedings.
I have to tell you, it is really weird seeing all of the Senators sitting at their desks. I don't believe I've ever seen that.
The Republicans who voted for Sotomayor:
Alexander
Bond
Collins
Graham
Gregg
Lugar
Martinez
Snowe
Voinovich