COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A civil rights organization says it has
filed a federal lawsuit against South Carolina, contending the
state unfairly limits how candidates are chosen to be on voter
ballots.
The American Civil Liberties Union said it filed the lawsuit
Thursday in U.S. District Court in Columbia.
The organization says the state's so-called sore loser law is
unconstitutional. The law prevents a candidate who loses a primary
election from appearing on a ballot as the candidate of a different
political party.
The ACLU filed its lawsuit on behalf of a voter, the Green Party
and a one-time state House candidate.
Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire says the law
protects a party's selection process.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)