Henderson liquor-by-drink fails upon final vote count

CHESTER COUNTY, Tenn. — After final results initially showed a liquor-by-the-drink referendum as having been approved by Henderson voters, a final tally shows the referendum failed.

Upon certifying the results Thursday from the Nov. 8 election, officials found that one precinct’s results had not been accurately represented due to a technical issue.

“There was never a point that a single vote was at risk of being lost,” Election Administrator Michelle White said. “In each election, all results are unofficial until the Election Commission certifies the election.”

A final count revealed that the on-premises consumption proposal failed by only seven votes. The final tally was 934 votes in favor and 941 against.

“One of those cards (Mobile Ballot Boxes) that came from early voting did not report all of the votes that were actually cast during early voting,” Chad Holgan with Harp Enterprises said. Harp certifies the election equipment Chester County uses. “It only reported 77 votes, and there were actually 1,710 votes that should have been reported.”

Harold Spain was a prominent supporter of the referendums and says he is satisfied with the results and how things were solved.

“For probably the past 50 years that I know of there’s been this atmosphere of ‘us and them’ between the college, the Church of Christ and the residents, and I hope this will actually bring together some of those divisions,” Spain said.

Voters have five days to contest the certified final results of the election.

We’ll have more details on WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News at 5 & 6.