Heavy turnout delays Johnson County returns

Johnson County officials said it took longer than expected to post the early voting and final election results Tuesday because of an unusually high turnout.

More than 50,000 ballots were cast — 32,338 early and 18,003 on Election Day.

"In the seven years I’ve been here, this is the most votes we’ve ever had," Assistant Elections Administrator Patty Bourgeois said.

In Johnson County, ballots are fed into an optical scanner. The county has one machine for counting the votes, Bourgeois said.

County Judge Roger Harmon said that each scanner costs around $40,000 but that it may be worth buying another for backup.

In Rio Vista, the final unofficial results on the liquor election are in.

Voters narrowly defeated the option to sell hard liquor, 178-161, or 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. The election was called because of a court challenge to last May’s liquor election, which passed by two votes.

Brenda Hall, who has championed several liquor elections in the tiny Johnson County community, said she will challenge Tuesday’s results.

"I can keep my liquor store open until the matter is resolved," she said.