The race for the Clerk of Floyd County Superior Court is still undecided after a race that went down to the wire.

Incumbent Barbara Penson, a Democrat, edged past Republican Mark McAllister by just 32 votes in a race that was close throughout the night.

The final vote count was 15,514 for Penson and 15,482 for McAllister (50.02 percent to 49.92 percent).

But 50 to 60 provisional votes need to be counted and verified and that could change the outcome, according to Pete McDonald, chairman of the Floyd County Board of Elections.

Penson said Tuesday night that it was “nerve-wracking.”

“I never thought it would be this close,” Penson said. “It’s political lines. I felt like my qualifications far outweighed my opponent’s.”

Penson was seeking her second term in office after winning in 2008 after defeating John Harkins in the Democrat primary after long-time clerk Joe Johnston retired.

When asked why he thought the race was so close, McAllister said, “To tell you the truth, I have no idea. It’s hard to get in the mind of the voter.”

McAllister said he will ask for a recount if the difference was less than one percent of all votes cast.

“I don’t blame Mr. McAllister if he asks for a recount,” Penson said. “But I don’t know of a recount that has changed election results.”