Aberdeen’s Deadlocked Election
A tie for City Treasurer leaves the winners debating whether to settle the race with dice, straws, or a sprint.
The city election Tuesday brought to the polls a good size vote. The vote was close throughout, especially in the case of J. S. Gunn and W. B. Mack, each of whom received 172 votes. They will be tied unless the council, sitting as a board of canvassers, counts a majority of the votes previously thrown out in favor of one of the candidates. In case of a tie, the contestants have not decided whether they will draw straws, throw dice, or have a sprinting match.
“In case of a tie, the contestants have not decided whether they will draw straws, throw dice or have a sprinting match.”
Municipal ties are rare today, usually resolved by lottery or coin flip in accordance with strict state law. In 1892, the informality of settling a government office via a 'sprinting match' highlights the raw, frontier nature of early Aberdeen civic life.
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