Election results were delayed, some ballots hand-counted

System in place that is efficient and assures accuracy

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After nearly a two-hour delay because of technical difficulties and an increased number of absentee ballots, all of White County’s 4,396 votes were counted, and the results of the Aug. 6 election were announced late the same night.

“We had some ballots that would not scan,” Dorcas Marcum, White County administrator of elections, said. “So the voters ended up just putting those in a ballot bag locked up. The poll officials brought those back [to the White County Courthouse] at the end of the night. We had to hand count those.”

Marcum explained the election commission has a system in place that was used for hand counting that is both efficient and assures accuracy.

“One person would count, the other would check it back and verify,” Marcum said, explaining the process took time for the eight workers to hand count the votes, while maintaining the integrity of each ballot. “However many ballots you have, you cannot have more votes than that.”

Tennessee’s 95 counties are required to report their election results to the state, with most usually reporting those by 8:30 p.m. the night of an election. Because of the difficulties, as well as poll officials having to scan an increased number of absentee ballots, White County was not able to submit their results until 10:15 p.m., on Aug. 6.

Marcum said she does not anticipate the same difficulties for the November election as she is confident the problem with the voting machines, which were just purchased this year, will be resolved before then.

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