TOPEKA (AP) – A case from Reno County was raising new questions about a legal dispute between Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and one of his strongest critics over releasing voter names to candidates.

The Republican secretary of state was in federal court Wednesday to argue that Democratic state Rep. Ann Mah of Topeka and her GOP challenger shouldn’t be allowed to contact voters casting provisional ballots in last week’s election. Kobach contends releasing the voters’ names violates federal law.

But, U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten on Wednesday ruled against Kobach saying candidates in a close Kansas House race can contact voters who cast uncounted provisional ballots.

Documents provided to The Associated Press show a losing candidate in a Reno County legislative primary in August received more information than Mah has received about provisional voters.

Deputy County Election Officer Jenna Fager said the state didn’t give her a definitive answer when she asked about releasing the information.