Same Number of Votes... Elected to the US Market by 'Coin Toss'

Monroe City, North Carolina
Lottery System Decided According to State Law

In the mayoral election held in Monroe, North Carolina, USA, the winner was decided by a coin toss after the two candidates received an equal number of votes, drawing attention.

According to WCNC News and others, among the five candidates running for mayor of Monroe, Robert Burns and Bob Yanacsek each received 970 votes, and ultimately the mayoral seat was awarded to the winner of the coin toss.

Initially, after both candidates received 970 votes, the local election commission held a meeting to discuss whether to conduct a recount with the two candidates. However, both candidates decided not to proceed with a recount.

As a result, the local election commission decided to determine the winner by a coin toss. According to state law, if the total number of voters is less than 5,000 and the vote counts are tied, the winner must be decided by a drawing.

[Image source=Getty Images Bank]

Accordingly, the coin toss was conducted under the supervision of the election commission. When the commission tossed the coin, the candidates chose heads or tails. Yanacsek chose heads, and Burns chose tails.

Then the election official tossed the coin, and tails came up, so Burns was elected. Cheers erupted around, and the two candidates shook hands and embraced.

Before the coin toss, Burns said on social media, "I have worked hard so far, and now everything is in God's hands."

After the mayoral election concluded, Yanacsek posted a video on social media urging his supporters not to be discouraged by the result. He said, "We did not lose the election; we only lost the coin toss."