Kentucky City's Mayor Picked by Winning Coin Toss After Election Ends in Tie

[MyMission]

And it's not just Kentucky. Apparently 28 states use this method when there's a tie. Seriously?!?
I haven't looked to see which states, but I bet I could correctly guess at least 20, maybe 25.

"A mayor in Kentucky was officially elected after winning a coin toss due to the initial ballot results ending in a tie.

Incumbent Greg McElfresh and Mason Taylor each scored 55 votes in the City of Butler's mayoral race on Tuesday, with a third candidate, Joshua McGriffin, garnering 15 votes, ABC News reported.

According to Kentucky law, tied elections must be decided by "lots," meaning the winner will be selected at random, per ABC News.".....

"Kentucky is among 28 states which determine winners by drawing lots or similar methods to resolve a tied election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Meanwhile, 14 other states will require a new election to be called if candidates end up garnering the same amount of votes in the race."

https://people.com/politics/kentucky-city-mayor-picked-winning-coin-toss-after-election-ends-in-tie/

[NameAlreadyTaken]

1. Here in Goldfield, Nevada, in 2008 I think

an Esmeralda County Commissioner race resulted in an exact tie, and R.J. Gillum eventually won it - by a draw of cards.

[MyMission]

5. So Nevada's another state that draws lots, or

Draws cards or flips coins.

If the votes are tied, 28 states leave it to chance rather than asking voters to decide in a 2nd election. Saves time and money, but doesn't feel right to me.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. They won't let us do duels any more.

[MyMission]

4. I hear they're trying to bring them back

Lol.

Okay I didn't hear that, but it wouldn't surprise me. By they I mean the GOPQ.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Seeing How There Were 125 Votes Cast...

...it probably doesn't matter much who wins mayor.
Our town had about 18 times those votes and a coin flip would have been OK here.
The city manager is in charge of everything that matters to the residents.

[MyMission]

6. In a small town with low voter turnout

There are fewer folks to complain or care about the outcome. But 28 states draw lots and only 14 hold another election. Not for all offices, but the fact that these rules exist is unsettling.

I clicked on a link to find out more about the states with this policy, and got an interesting breakdown on the 8 that don't fall into either category. Still didn't find the list of states in those 2 categories.

Montana, Tennessee and West Virginia determine winners by having the winner selected either by the governor or by the state board of elections.

Nevada and New Hampshire determine winners by a joint vote of the state legislature.

North Carolina bifurcates its tiebreaking system: if a state legislative election involves fewer than 5,000 votes, the tie is broken by the canvassing board which oversaw the election. If a state legislative election involves greater than 5,000 votes, a special election is held between the tied candidates.

New Jersey does not have a statute governing the breaking of tie votes.

Texas allows for either a special election or the tying candidates may agree to cast lots, or one candidate may resolve the tie by withdrawing from the race.

https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/resolving-tied-elections.aspx