[JURIST] A Florida appeals court overturned [ruling, PDF] a lower court ruling [JURIST report] Friday and granted state election officials permission to post polling area signs telling voters that ballots cast for Mark Foley would count as votes for his Republican replacement candidate. Foley's name appears on the ballot because it was too late to take his name off when he resigned last month after sending inappropriate text messages [JURIST report] to congressional aides.

The Florida Democratic Party [political party website] initiated the suit, saying the signs mentioning Joe Negron [campaign website] would amount to political ads, not permitted within 100 feet of polling places. The appeals court Friday said the signs would have to include the names of the Democrat and independent candidates as well. The Democrats do not plan to appeal. Reuters has more.