City of Fairfield issued the following announcement on Dec. 10,
Many people have expressed questions about “drawing lots” for a tied election. Here is some information on “drawing lots”:
Tied elections are settled in a variety of ways, depending on the State and City codes involved. Drawing lots is relatively common in the United States. According to a 2014 Washington Post article, 35 States rely on “the luck of the draw” for local and state election ties. According to the BBC, even the UK and Canada uses drawings lots. Coin tosses, drawings straws, and film canisters have all been used.
Ballot measures (yes/no questions) fail if they are tied.
Other ties are settled by a third party such as legislature or high-ranking elected official. A tie in 1996 in the South Dakota House of Representatives was voted on by the remaining house seats.
In 1891, the treasurer of Montgomery County Indiana was decided by 200-yard footrace. According to the newspaper article, “several thousand people were on the ground betting on the outcome.” One candidate appeared to be the clear winner until he tripped and fell within 3-yards of the goal, making the other candidate crawl over him. One eventually won by crawling over the finish line. However, considering this account was only found in one location during my brief internet search, it is likely a farce.
The 2019 local Iowa elections resulted in four races being decided by drawing lots: Sully Mayor, Moravia City Council seat, Elk Run Heights Mayor, and Fairfield Mayor.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Fairfield
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