TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- A late change in the race for the Indiana House District 46 seat in the Terre Haute area could mean that more than 1,000 absentee ballots already cast won't count.

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Last week, the Indiana Supreme Court said Republican Rep. Brooks LaPlante could be on the ballot for the Terre Haute-area district, pending a review by the appellate court.

Republicans picked LaPlante (pictured, left) to replace Jeff Lee, who won the May primary but dropped out of the race last month. Lee filed withdrawal papers saying he had moved out of the district, which covers parts of Vigo, Clay, Owen and Monroe counties in western Indiana.

Democrats argue that Lee hasn't moved and that the matter is a ploy to get LaPlante back on the ballot after he had earlier not sought re-election against Vern Tincher.

Democrats petitioned for an appeal Monday. Republicans have until noon Wednesday to reply.

Officials in the district said more than 1,000 absentee ballots -- all with Lee as the GOP's House District 46 candidate -- have been cast, and they may not count if the Democrats' appeal fails.

Officials on Monday were advising people not to cast absentee ballots until the matter is resolved.

Vigo County Clerk Patricia Mansard said ballots with LaPlante's name have been ordered. Changes to the ballots and the district's optical scan voting machines will cost about $50,000, RTV6's Derrik Thomas reported.

Make RTV6 your source for election coverage on Nov. 2. Live continuous coverage begins at 6 p.m. on RTV6, NewsChannel 64, TheIndyChannel.com and on the radio at 87.7 fm.