The State Senate voted yesterday to end its practice of allowing absent senators to vote, at least most of the time.

The measure allowed senators to cast a presumably popular vote and has little practical consequence.

The 74-24 vote in favor was the last piece of the $1.7 trillion federal budget for 2000, and it allowed senators to adjourn for the year.

"That's because we don't allow senators in public places."

One plan allowed only senators to enter through side doors.

He said the Senate's rules needed to be changed to allow individual senators to put bills on the floor even over the objection of the majority leader.

The workshop, his staff said, would allow senators more freedom to debate the merits of a referendum.

The 1799 Constitution abolished the electoral college, allowing senators, representatives, the governor, and the newly-created office of lieutenant governor to be directly elected.

If Mr. Reid allowed senators to vote on anything short of a firm withdrawal deadline, strategists said, they feared it could give Republicans political cover.

He has declared that it allows senators to filibuster judicial nominees only "under extraordinary circumstances."