As we reported yesterday the election in the 94th district of the House of Delegates is tied with 11,608 votes cast for each candidate. The results of this race will determine if the House of Delegates is split 50-50 or 51 to 49, with Republicans in control.
The Virginia State Board of Elections will choose the winner through “determination by lot”. But it has not been decided when this will happen. From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
“I imagine we’ll probably get together next week,” State Board of Elections Chairman James Alcorn said in an interview. “We could call an emergency meeting later this week.
Referring to ties in local elections Alcorn said,
“In those situations, the electoral board typically draws names out of a hat. I believe one locality uses an old fashioned tri-corner hat for these occasions,” Alcorn said. “The state board typically draws names out of a glass bowl when we’re picking the order of candidates for the ballot.”
“They put two names in, somebody shakes it up, and they pull it,” said State Board of Elections member Clara Belle Wheeler. “It’s that or it’s straws.”
Today on WMAL radio Delegate Hugo (R-Fairfax), who recently won his recount, said the two candidates in the 94th may flip a coin or draw straws to determine the winner. The bad news is the loser can immediately request another recount and it starts all over again.
