Cole County, Mo., voters get do-over for county commission race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- More than 140 people who earlier this month voted on the wrong ballot in a mid-Missouri county commission race will get a do-over.

The revote will decide who wins a primary election that was separated by just seven votes. A Cole County judge on Tuesday approved the planned Sept. 9 revote for just the 144 people who cast the wrong ballots. Absentee ballots will also be accepted beginning Aug. 28.

The two candidates, Jeff Hoelscher and Edith Vogel, had suggested the limited revote. Vogel, who lost by seven votes, filed a lawsuit earlier this month seeking a revote.

The 144 miscast ballots came from a precinct that is split between those living in the eastern and western districts of Cole County. Voters were given a ballot for the western district when they should have been given one for the tightly contested eastern district primary.

Cole County Clerk Marvin Register said that a letter will be sent to the 144 voters telling them about the revote. Register said he can identify those who voted on the wrong ballot based on the precinct's poll books.

The identity of those who will revote is being kept secret.

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Information from: Daily Capital News, http://www.newstribune.com