Tedra Cobb (Photo — Michael Anich, The Leader-Herald)

The state Board of Elections is likely to rule Wednesday that Democratic candidate Tedra Cobb’s bid for an independent ballot line is invalid, according to Director of Public Information John Conklin.

“They had a hearing today; both parties showed up,” Conklin said Monday.

Based on the recommendations of Board of Elections staff and the hearing, the hearing officer is expected to recommend that the four commissioners of the Board of Elections rule the petition invalid on Wednesday when they next meet.

In July, Cobb, who is running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, launched an effort to create an independent ballot line — Congressional District 21 Unites — for voters who do not want to vote on the Democratic line. To get on the ballot under this CD 21 Unites line, Cobb needed 3,500 signatures on her independent nominating petition turned in to the state Board of Elections by July 31.

Cobb’s campaign initially announced it turned in 3,976 signatures on July 31, although the final tally from the Board of Elections was 3,729. Cobb Campaign Director Anna Sorensen said the second number was the official count from the Board of Elections, while the first number was sent out before the official count came in. She said she did not know how the discrepancy happened.

The petitions were challenged in the Board of Elections, and staff reviewed the signatures to determine how many were invalid.

“The staff ruled 572 to be invalid, leaving 3,157, and they needed 3,500,” Conklin said.

The results are unofficial until the Board of Elections commissioners vote.