The outcome of the Eastern Cole County Commissioner's Republican race is in doubt between Jeff Hoelscher and Edith G. Vogel. The results of the race may have been affected when the wrong ballots were sent to a polling place in Jefferson City's Fourth Ward.

Cole County Clerk Marvin Register said 144 people voted at Our Savior Lutheran Church, where ballots for Western Cole County were sent. The precinct is part of Cole County's Eastern District. Hoelscher defeated Vogel by seven votes.

"Who knows how that would have turned out if they would have had the right ballots to vote, and we don't know what the outcome is," Register said at a Thursday afternoon press conference.

A judge will now decide whether the county will recount the votes in the race or hold a special election. If a special election is held, it could either be held in just the Fourth Ward precinct or in the entire Eastern District.

A special election could cost the county up to $13,000, not including the pay poll workers would recieve.

Register noticed the irregularity in a post-election review of the results. According to a Jefferson City News Tribune article filed after Tuesday's election, Vogel already planned to ask for a recount.