A US federal appeals court has reinstated California's recall election for state governor, rejecting an earlier court's decision to put it off for months.
Unless the US Supreme Court steps in quickly, the decision means Election Day is two weeks away.
Eleven judges, sitting in San Francisco, unanimously overturned the decision of a three-judge panel.
The original panel postponed the election on whether to recall Governor Gray Davis because six counties would use outdated punch-card ballots that were the subject of the "hanging chads" battle in the 2000 presidential election in Florida.
The decision clears the way for a possible appeal to the US Supreme Court, which could be asked to revisit its Bush v Gore decision in the 2000 election.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the challenge, did not immediately say whether it would appeal.
The appeals court reinstated a ruling by a district court judge who refused to postpone the election. The judges based their decision on the state's constitution, not any precedent set by Bush v. Gore.
"The district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that plaintiffs will suffer no hardship that outweighs the stake of the state of California and its citizens in having this election go forward as planned and as required by the California constitution," the ruling said.
Legal scholars had predicted the outcome. A day after the original decision delaying the vote, the court announced it would revisit the case with 11 judges - a sign the court was not happy with the original decision.
Davis, a Democrat, has been dogged by his handling of the state's ailing economy.
Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante is running as a fallback Democratic candidate if voters oust Davis, and Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger is among 135 candidates also campaigning for Davis' job.