King County Superior Court Judge Richard Eadie will hear arguments Friday at 9 a.m. over halting printing of ballots describing Republican Dino Rossi's party preference as "GOP Party."

Saying that a significant number of voters don't realize that GOP and Republican are synonymous, the state Democratic Party is suing to try to force Secretary of State Sam Reed to have the ballot say "Republican" next to Rossi's name. In a close race, Democrats maintain, the confusion could add tens of thousands of votes to Rossi.

Reed's position: "It was the candidates' call, not for the government to mandate." He noted that one candidate described himself as a member of the "Salmon Yoga" party. Some candidates listed no party preference at all.

State Elections Director Nick Handy says some counties have already printed their ballots, even mailing some already to military voters.

"The proverbial train has left the station," Handy says.

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