SAN FRANCISCO -- While the California Supreme Court dismissed five cases last week challenging the recall vote of Gov. Davis, four other lawsuits remain alive, seeking to delay all or part of the Oct. 7 vote until March.

No matter the outcome, none would prevent voters from eventually getting a say over Davis' future.

Nor would they stop the electorate from getting a chance to vote on measures to bar the collection of racial data and to devote state money to schools and roads.

Late today in Sacramento, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund will argue that state law requires voters to be able to review their ballot choices at least 100 days before an election. The recall was just certified July 23, and only 55 days remain until Election Day. MALDEF also will urge the state judge to move the race-monitoring measure to the March ballot.

On Friday, MALDEF will join with the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights of San Francisco and make similar arguments before a federal judge in San Jose. Again, MALDEF will demand that Proposition 54, the race-tracking measure, be placed on the March ballot -- this time because Monterey County -- like Kings, Merced and Yuba counties -- needs Justice Department approval before reducing the number of polls open on Oct. 7, to comply with the Voting Rights Act. State officials have asked the government for expedited clearance for the counties.

The lawyers' committee seeks to delay the entire recall vote until March.

The fourth case, to be heard Monday in federal court in Los Angeles, was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. It claims voters would be disenfranchised because counties would have to use punch-card machines that they had promised to discard before the March vote.