ok
if i remove the following code the page will display properly:
<option value="<?php echo $row_Rs_States['StateID']?>" <?php if (!(strcmp("<?php echo $row_Rs_States['StateID']?>", (isset($_GET["invalid"])?ValidatedField("custregistration","state"):"")))) {echo "selected=\"selected\"";} ?>><?php echo $row_Rs_States['StateAbbrev']?></option>
<option value="<?php echo $row_RsCountry['CountryID']?>" <?php if (!(strcmp("<?php echo $row_RsCountry['CountryID']?>", (isset($_GET["invalid"])?ValidatedField("custregistration","country"):"")))) {echo "selected=\"selected\"";} ?>><?php echo $row_RsCountry['CountryAbbrev']?></option>