That's how I had always understood it would be tallied. Not sure where I got that understanding though, previous post perhaps? I haven't looked back at any. Phantom's post #125, counted West Coast vs. East Coast votes.
I do wish the Smokey Mnt. & Kentucky choices had been lumped into an "East of the Mississippi" option though, then it later could've been decided further from there between Kentucky, Smokies, or Franklin.