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| How to settle Virginia's election tie? By drawing names from a bowl (or a hat) | How to settle Virginia's election tie? By drawing names from a bowl (or a hat) |
| (25 days later) | |
| Shelly Simonds and David Yancey received exactly the same number of votes on 7 November, and now the state is compelled to pick a winner by drawing lots | |
| Adam Gabbatt in New York | |
| Thu 21 Dec 2017 17.49 GMT | |
| Last modified on Thu 21 Dec 2017 19.35 GMT | |
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| An election in Virginia is set to be decided by drawing names out of a bowl or a hat, after two candidates drew the same number of votes. | An election in Virginia is set to be decided by drawing names out of a bowl or a hat, after two candidates drew the same number of votes. |
| A controversial recount in the state’s 94th district found that Democrat Shelly Simonds and incumbent Republican David Yancey tied in a house of delegates election on 7 November. Under Virginia law, the winner will now be “determined by lot”. The law does not, however, specify how that process should take place. | A controversial recount in the state’s 94th district found that Democrat Shelly Simonds and incumbent Republican David Yancey tied in a house of delegates election on 7 November. Under Virginia law, the winner will now be “determined by lot”. The law does not, however, specify how that process should take place. |
| The chairman of Virginia’s board of elections, James Alcorn, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch it was rare for a state election to be determined by drawing names out of a glass bowl or tricorn hat, although it happens more regularly at a local level. | The chairman of Virginia’s board of elections, James Alcorn, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch it was rare for a state election to be determined by drawing names out of a glass bowl or tricorn hat, although it happens more regularly at a local level. |
| “In those situations, the electoral board typically draws names out of a hat,” Alcorn said. “I believe one locality uses an old-fashioned tricorn hat for these occasions. | “In those situations, the electoral board typically draws names out of a hat,” Alcorn said. “I believe one locality uses an old-fashioned tricorn hat for these occasions. |
| “The state board typically draws names out of a glass bowl when we’re picking the order of candidates for the ballot.” | “The state board typically draws names out of a glass bowl when we’re picking the order of candidates for the ballot.” |
| The Associated Press reported that the board may use a tricorn hat on this occasion, although the Washington Post said the names could be drawn from Alcorn’s own bowler hat. | The Associated Press reported that the board may use a tricorn hat on this occasion, although the Washington Post said the names could be drawn from Alcorn’s own bowler hat. |
| The Virginia board of elections did not immediately respond to the Guardian’s questions about the glass bowl, tricorn hat and bowler. | The Virginia board of elections did not immediately respond to the Guardian’s questions about the glass bowl, tricorn hat and bowler. |
| Yancey was first declared the winner of the election, before on Tuesday a recount found Simonds had won by one vote. On Wednesday, a panel of three judges decided that a ballot which had marks against both candidates’ names was actually a vote for Yancey. The mark against Simonds’ name had a light cross through it. | Yancey was first declared the winner of the election, before on Tuesday a recount found Simonds had won by one vote. On Wednesday, a panel of three judges decided that a ballot which had marks against both candidates’ names was actually a vote for Yancey. The mark against Simonds’ name had a light cross through it. |
| The Times-Dispatch reported that an election to the Virginia house of delegates was decided by drawing names in 1971. On that occasion the elections board chairman wore a red, white and blue handkerchief, according to the Times-Dispatch, and drew an envelope from a “gallon-size cup”. | The Times-Dispatch reported that an election to the Virginia house of delegates was decided by drawing names in 1971. On that occasion the elections board chairman wore a red, white and blue handkerchief, according to the Times-Dispatch, and drew an envelope from a “gallon-size cup”. |
| In local elections, the process of choosing candidates by chance is relatively common. Tied results can be drawn by coin toss, drawing straws or any method that produces a random result. | In local elections, the process of choosing candidates by chance is relatively common. Tied results can be drawn by coin toss, drawing straws or any method that produces a random result. |
| In 2014 a city council election in Neptune Beach, Florida, was decided by drawing ping-pong balls from a bag. Richard Arthur took his place on the council after drawing a higher-numbered ball than his opponent Rory Diamond. | In 2014 a city council election in Neptune Beach, Florida, was decided by drawing ping-pong balls from a bag. Richard Arthur took his place on the council after drawing a higher-numbered ball than his opponent Rory Diamond. |
| Two Nevada elections – one for a seat on a county commission, the other a city council primary – have been decided by drawing playing cards, the highest card winning. A 2014 study by the Washington Post found that 35 states have some procedure for selecting candidates by chance. | Two Nevada elections – one for a seat on a county commission, the other a city council primary – have been decided by drawing playing cards, the highest card winning. A 2014 study by the Washington Post found that 35 states have some procedure for selecting candidates by chance. |
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