INDIANAPOLIS -- Lake County Republicans challenging the county's early voting centers in three Democratic strongholds appealed their case to the Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday, a day after a special judge ruled the centers could remain open.

Tim Sendak, a Crown Point attorney for the Republicans, said a motion was filed Thursday afternoon with the court seeking an emergency hearing in the party's bid to close the voting centers in Gary, East Chicago and Hammond.

"This is a matter of great public importance and it needs to be settled quickly," he told the Post-Tribune of Merrillville on Wednesday.

The motion was filed one day after a special judge named by the state Supreme Court ruled that the voting centers in county clerk branch offices should remain open and that closing them could jeopardize people's fundamental right to vote.

Republicans contend the voting centers increase the risk of voter fraud. They also argue that state law only allows one such voting center - in suburban Crown Point - unless both parties agree to locations.

It was unclear when the state Supreme Court would hold a hearing on the motion. Telephone messages were left Thursday with Kathryn Dolan, a spokeswoman for the state Supreme Court.

In Wednesday's ruling, Lake County Superior Court Judge Diane Kavadias Schneider acknowledged that Lake County "has had a history of public corruption and voter fraud."

But she said there are several safeguards in place for in-person absentee voting, including a state law requiring voters to present photo identification and access to registration checks through a state voter database.

Kavadias Schneider sided with Democrats, who have argued that many residents of the three cities cannot get to Crown Point to cast early ballots and will not have time to vote on Nov. 4.

The judge noted that travel to Crown Point from Gary, Hammond and East Chicago "is impractical or impossible" and challenged the plaintiffs and their attorneys to go to certain intersections in each city and attempt to travel to Crown Point by public transportation.

The case has taken on racial overtones, with some Democrats questioning whether Republicans are trying to suppress votes by minorities likely to favor Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Indiana has not chosen a Democrat for president since 1964, but polls show this year's race between the Illinois senator and Republican John McCain to be close.