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Alabama
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Ala. Code
§17-12-23 |
Ties are broken by lot.
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| Alaska |
Alaska Stat. §15.15.460,
§15.20.530 |
A tie vote triggers a recount. If the race is still tied after the recount, the winner is determined by drawing lots. |
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Arizona
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ARS 16-649 |
Ties are broken by the drawing of lots.
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Arkansas
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Ark. Code Ann.
§7-5-704
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To break ties, a special runoff election is held four weeks from the day on which the general election that resulted in a tie is held.
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California
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Cal. Elec. Code § 15651 |
The secretary of state resolves the tie by lot.
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Colorado
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CRS § 1-11-101 |
The secretary of the state resolves the tie by lot after recounts have been completed.
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Connecticut
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Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 9-332 |
A recount shall be held to break a tie vote. If after the recount the vote is still tied, a special election between the two tied candidates will be held three weeks after the general election resulting in the tied vote.
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Delaware
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Del. Code Ann. Tit. 15 § 5708, § 7101 |
A tie is treated as a vacancy and a special election shall be held to fill the vacant seat.
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Florida
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Fla. Stat. Ann. § 100.181 |
The tie is resolved by lot.
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Georgia
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Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-501 |
A runoff is held 28 days following the tied election.
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Hawaii
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HRS § 11-157 |
A tie shall be decided by the chief election officer or clerk in the case of county elections by lot.
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Idaho
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ID Code § 34-1216 |
Ties are broken by a toss of a coin before the secretary of state.
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Illinois
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10 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/23-27 |
The tie is resolved by lot.
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Indiana
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IC §§ 3-12-9-1 |
The tie is resolved by a special election.
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Iowa
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I.C.A. § 50.44 |
The tie is resolved by lot (drawing names written on paper).
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Kansas
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K.S.A. §§ 25-3208 |
The state Board of Canvassers breaks the tie by lot.
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Kentucky
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KRS § 118.425(6) |
Ties are broken by lot.
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Louisiana
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L.R.S. § 18:512 |
A runoff election is held on the third Saturday after the date when the results of the tie are promulgated.
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Maine
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Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 21-A, § 732, Me. Const. Art. 5, Pt. 1, § 3 |
A special election is held to break the tie.
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Maryland
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MD Constitution, Art. 17, § 8 |
A special election is held to break the tie.
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Massachusetts
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M.G.L.A. Const. Amend. Art. XV (provision is found under “Articles of Amendment”) Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 50, § 2 |
To break a tie vote, a runoff election will be held on the fourth Monday of the same November as the general election resulting in a tie.
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Michigan
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M.C.L.A. 168.852
M.C.L.A. 168.846
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The tie is broken by lot.
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Minnesota
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Minn. Stat. § 204C.34 |
The appropriate canvassing board breaks the tie by lot.
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Mississippi
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Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-605 |
The winner of a tie vote is determined by lot. However, the loser of this tiebreaker can appeal to the legislature for final resolution.
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Missouri
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Mo, Rev. Stat. § 115.517 |
To break the tie, the governor orders a special election to be held between the tied candidates, and sets the date for the election.
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Montana
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Mont. Code §13-16-503 |
The governor casts the deciding vote by appointing one of the candidates.
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Nebraska
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Neb. Rev. Stat. §32-1122 |
A tie vote triggers a recount. If the race is still tied after the recount, races canvassed by the state board of canvassers, which includes legislative races, are determined by lot.
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Nevada
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N.R.S.A. § 293.400 |
The legislature elects one person to fill the office by joint vote of both houses.
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New Hampshire
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N.H. Const. Pt. 2, Art. 34, N.H. Const. Pt. 2, Art. 42
N.H. Stat. 660:24
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Ties are broken by a joint vote of both houses of the legislature.
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New Jersey
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N.J.S.A. §§ 19:28-1 et seq. and 19:29-1 et seq. |
There is no specific statute governing the resolution of ties. Instead, in the event of a tie, either tied candidate may petition for a recount or contest the election results.
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New Mexico
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N.M.S.A. § 1-13-11 |
In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by lot.
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New York
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NY CLS Elec § 9-208 |
A new election shall be held.
Note: Beginning January 1, 2021, an automatic recount happens when the margin of victory is 20 votes or 0.5% or less.
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North Carolina
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N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-182.8 |
For general elections in which more than 5,000 votes were cast, a runoff election shall be held to determine the winner.
For general elections in which fewer than 5,000 votes were cast, the tie shall be broken in a random manner to be determined by the State Board of Elections.
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North Dakota
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NDCC 16.1-15-30, NDCC 16.1-11-38 |
To break a tie, a mandatory recount shall be held. If a tie still exists, determined by drawing of names (by lot).
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Ohio
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Ohio Rev. Code § 3505.33 |
The winner in a tied election is chosen by lot by the appropriate board of elections.
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Oklahoma
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26 OK Stat. § 8-105 |
The appropriate board selects by lot in a public meeting and in the presence of the candidates involved or their designee.
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Oregon
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O.R.S. § 254.575 |
The winner of a tie vote is determined by lot.
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Pennsylvania
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Pa. Stat. 25 §3168 |
The winner of a tie vote is determined by lot.
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Rhode Island
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RICA § 17-3-3 |
The secretary of the state orders a runoff election for the 10th day from the date of the declaration of a tie, unless it is a legal holiday. In that case, the secretary directs the runoff election to proceed on the next day after the 10th day that is not a legal holiday.
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South Carolina
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S.C. Code § 7-13-2210 |
For legislative offices, the election officials shall hold a runoff election two weeks following the election. If that date falls on a legal holiday, they hold the runoff on the same day of the first week following that is not a holiday.
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South Dakota
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S.D. Codified Laws §12-21-43 |
A tie vote first triggers a recount. If the race is still tied, it is resolved by drawing lots.
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Tennessee
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Tenn. Code § 2-8-111 |
The state election commission casts the deciding vote.
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Texas
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Tex. Election Code §2.002 |
A tie vote first triggers a recount. If the race is still tied, a special election is called no earlier than the 20th day or later than the 30th day after the final canvass is completed. However, the tying candidates may agree to cast lots or one candidate may resolve the tie by withdrawing from the race.
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Utah
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Utah Code §20A-1-304 |
An election officer breaks a tie by lot in a public meeting in the presence of each person subject to the tie.
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Vermont
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Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 17 § 2602k |
A tie vote first triggers a recount. If the recount results in a tie, the court shall order a recessed election to be held, within three weeks of the recount, on a date set by the court.
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Virginia
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Va. Code Ann. §24.2-674 |
For members of the General Assembly, the State Board of Elections resolves the tie by drawing lots.
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Washington
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RCW §29A.60.221 |
The official empowered by state law to issue the original certificate of election publicly decides by lot.
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West Virginia
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W. Va. Code, §3-6-12 |
The board of canvassers responsible for canvassing the results of the election breaks the tie. However, if the board fails to do so within 30 days of the election, the governor breaks the tie.
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Wisconsin
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Wisc. Stat. § 5.01(4) |
The winner of a tied vote is determined by drawing lots.
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Wyoming
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Wyo. Stat. § 22-16-119 |
The winner is determined by drawing lots.
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