We are disturbed by the revelation this week that voters in seven precincts in the City of Richmond may have received the wrong ballot when they went to cast ballots in November’s state Senate elections.

We are even more disturbed by the seeming nonchalance of Richmond Voter Registrar Kirk Showalter, who apparently has taken no steps to find out just how many voters were given the wrong ballot by her election officials.

The situation is startling — and raises serious questions and red flags, particularly in light of Republican attempts in Virginia and across the nation to suppress voting rights with onerous and unnecessary ID requirements and other repressive tricks.

The hero here is a 59-year-old Richmond postal worker, Edward A. Adams, who brought this matter to Free Press and public attention. Mr. Adams, who lives in the 10th Senate District, voted in the June primary and expected to cast a ballot in the highly contested Senate race between Democrat Dan Gecker and Republican Glen Sturtevant in November.

But when he went to the poll, election officials gave him a ballot for the 9th District, waving off his questions of concern. Mr. Adams voted — but for someone whose district he is not a part of.

We were surprised to learn that Ms. Showalter’s office told him later on Election Day that there was nothing that could be done.

Several people were damaged that day — Mr. Adams and candidates in two different districts. Mr. Adams’ vote in the wrong district apparently counted for that candidate, while one of the candidates in whose district Mr. Adams lives was denied the vote Mr. Adams wanted to cast.

Mr. Adams’ inquiries have turned up several other voters who were given the wrong ballot, as well.

This problem should not be waved off or ignored. While Ms. Showalter said she didn’t know how many people were given the wrong ballots, how can she believe that the election officials’ mistakes didn’t impact the election results?

Mr. Sturtevant won the election by fewer than 1,500 votes. Could the mistakes have cost Mr. Gecker the election, or brought him within range to request a recount?

Ms. Showalter said she is taking steps to try to prevent this from happening in the future. But clearly, better training of election officials is needed. And more oversight of election officials is imperative, as well, to ensure that the fundamental right to vote isn’t abridged or skewed or tampered with in Richmond in the future.