The morning after Pike County voters turned out in droves to elect a sheriff on Tuesday, the winner remains undetermined.
When the last of 32 precincts was reported Tuesday, Summit Police Chief Kenny Cotton, a Democrat, led incumbent Mark Shepherd, a Republican, by 27 votes.
Cotton picked up 6,111 votes (50 percent) to Shepherd’s 6,084 (50 percent).
However, Shepherd surged ahead to take a 163-vote lead after election officials spent the evening and early hours today combing through 784 absentee ballots.
“We can determine somewhat what the turnout’s going to be by absentee votes,” Circuit Clerk Roger Graves said. “When I knew we have more than 700 votes, knew it’d be a record-setting turnout.”
Officials began tabulating affidavit ballots at 7 a.m. Graves said the process will be lengthy, and a winner may be determined by this evening.
He did not know how many affidavit ballots were left to count. A voter fills out an affidavit ballot to certify that they are a resident of a precinct when their names do not appear on voter rolls.
As it stoods this morning, Shepherd had 6,571 votes (51 percent) to Cotton’s 6,408 (49 percent). And all both candidates — and their supporters — can do is wait.
“We’ll wait on the final numbers. Obviously we’re very pleased with reclaiming the lead,” Shepherd said. “You just don’t ever know until all the votes are counted. You just don’t ever know until the last vote’s counted.”
Cotton said he was excited to have the lead, but knew the absentee ballots could make a difference.
“The turnaround with such a close margin, it’s not surprising. In fact, last night, with my supporters, I repeatedly told them it’s too close to call it a win,” he said.
Cotton was adamant that he has not conceded the race, and like the incumbent, was awaiting the results.
“I want to thank everybody that came out, those who supported me and those who didn’t,” Cotton said. “I hope the sheriff understands there’s a lot of people out there who want him to do things a little different.”
