Waiting for morning: Scanner for paper ballots malfunctions

With all precincts reporting and early voter totals entered, there are still races in Blount County that look too close to call.

The scanner for paper ballots malfunctioned Tuesday night and 1,050 paper ballots could not be counted. With several of the races close, including an 8 vote difference on the liquor-by-the-drink referendum in Townsend, Blount Countians will go to bed without complete results in some of the local elections.

Election officials said they did not know the distribution of the paper ballots, as to how many were city of Maryville voters, Townsend, Alcoa, Louisville or Blount County only.

Officials at the Blount County Election Commission said the machine should be fixed and hope totals will be announced as early as 8 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Blount Today will post totals on the website as soon as they are available.

At 11:15 p.m., with all precincts reporting and including early voting totals, here are the results:

In the race for Maryville City Council, where the top three will be elected:

Grant Cash -- 1,413
Tommy Hunt -- 4,433
Ron Ivens -- 3,546
Fred Metz -- 2,562
Darrell Tipton -- 3,190
Andy White -- 3,819

On the Alcoa referendum to allow package stores:
For -- 1,363
Against -- 970

In Townsend, For sale of alcohol by the drink:
Yes - 81
No -- 89

In the Louisville mayor's election:
Geraldine Anderson -- 501
Lynn Robert -- 428

In the Louisville election for alderman, where the top two vote getters will be elected:
Bob Gormley -- 476
Bill Marcus -- 423
Mark Thurston -- 383
Rob Tingle -- 432

In Blount County, the race for U.S. Senate:
Bob Corker -- 21.383
Ford -- 12,954

For Governor;
Bredesen -- 22,782
Bryson -- 11,373