Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington State Democrats lost an eleventh hour election lawsuit Friday. The Party sought to force gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi to identify himself as a Republican – not GOP – on the November ballot. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

The ruling means the printing of ballots can continue.

Democrats wanted the presses stopped and the ballots changed to say Dino Rossi prefers Republican, not prefers GOP, which stands for Grand Old Party.

Democrats say polling showed the GOP designator confused some voters. They claimed it could cost Democrat Chis Gregoire a hundred thousand votes in the governor’s race.

But a judge in Seattle’s King County declined to order the ballots changed.

Democrats say they don’t plan to appeal the ruling.

Secretary of State Sam Reed, a Republican, issued a statement that said he is relieved the court rejected attempts to derail what has been a smooth election so far.

County election officials have until October 5th to mail out military and overseas ballots.