Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Richland County election officials have found 150 ballots in a bag a day after finishing their unofficial count of ballots from this month's election.

County Election Commission attorney Steve Hamm said workers found the ballots in a sealed room not long after finishing their count Wednesday night.

The ballots were in a bag sealed by the State Law Enforcement Division, which kept control of the votes for several days while a judge determined what to do about the counting.

The Richland County Election Commission plans to meet Thursday afternoon and count the ballots.

The count Wednesday confirmed Republican businessman Kirkman Finlay won a state House seat.

Richland County reported five-hour waits to vote Nov. 6 amid broken machines and questions whether the county held back some voting devices.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)