Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Richland County's preliminary vote tally shows that Republican Kirkman Finlay is the unofficial winner of a South Carolina House race in Columbia, but his Democratic opponent is challenging the results.

A cascade of Election Day problems delayed the county's unofficial results until late Wednesday. Long lines of voters, too few voting machines and broken counting scanners delayed counts.

County election commission deputy director Garry Baum says provisional ballots still must be counted and audits conducted. Baum says he expects the election to be certified Friday.

The unofficial tally had the men separated by less than 300 votes.

Finlay is a former Columbia City councilman who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2010. Democrat Joe McCulloch is an attorney.

County officials have not explained how the problems occurred.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)