Good news for Democrats. Make that limited good news. It is limited because it applies only to Democrats in Washington, and, to a very specific situation. Party officials there have won the right to contact persons who cast provisional ballots Nov. 2. That matters because the Washington gubernatorial race remains undecided. The candidates, Democrat Christine Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi, have traded the lead back and forth since Election Day night. As of Friday, 50,000 votes were still uncounted and Rossi had a 2,000 vote advantage.

Wired reports.

SEATTLE — Democratic Party volunteers are frantically calling voters whose provisional ballots are in dispute, urging them to make sure their vote is counted in the state's still-undecided governor's race.

The volunteers went to work Friday night, after party officials successfully sued to get access to the names of 929 voters — all in heavily Democratic King County — whose ballots were questionable. They planned to keep working through the weekend.

Elections officials said there was no reason to release the names, because voters who cast provisional ballots know those ballots may need to be verified, and it's up to each voter to contact the county and make sure the vote was counted. Provisional ballots are used primarily when a voter is not at his home precinct or if registration is in question.

King County Superior Court Judge Dean S. Lum said it would burden the county little to release the names, and that state law favors openness in government. "No right is more precious than the right to vote," he said.

. . .Election results are scheduled to be certified Wednesday. The county deadline for voters to resolve problems with their ballots is 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The outcome of the successful appeal to the judiciary has given the elephant a headache. Republicans are perturbed. King County GOP Chairman Pat Herbol has described contacting provisional voters to remind them to be available to support their ballots as "another Florida." He goes on to imply Rossi has won the race and Gregoire should concede. However, that is not true. With the number of ballots still unexamined, Rossi's lead could evaporate.

The procedure for finding out if there are still problems with a provisional ballot requires the voter to take the initiative. He must either call the county elections office or locate its website and check for his name there. Considering the cumbersome process, allowing others to contact the voter seems justified.

The best scenario for both parties is that their candidate carry the race without needing to rely on the provisional ballots, but that the challenged votes be available if needed. Having the voters clear up discrepancies will help achieve that goal. I would not be surprised if the Republicans start contacting provisional voters, too.

Reasonably related

Residents of Washington have milk. The question is: Got governor?

Note 1: This entry also appeared at Silver Rights.

Note 2: Enjoy a mixed grille of fine blogging at Mac-a-ro-nies.