Governor Ferry Calls for a Special Election
Following a tie vote in the November 1876 election, the Governor orders a new vote for the Territorial Assembly representative for Clallam and San Juan counties.
Whereas, at the General Election held on the 7th day of November, A.D. 1876, in the Counties of Clallam and San Juan, there was no election for a Representative for said counties to the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington, two persons having received the same and an equal number of votes in said counties for said office. Now, therefore, I, Elisha P. Ferry, Governor of the Territory of Washington, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested by the laws of the Territory of Washington, do hereby proclaim that an election be held in said counties of Clallam and San Juan on the 12th day of June, A.D. 1877, for a Joint Representative for said counties to the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington.
“There was no election for a Representative... two persons having received the same and an equal number of votes.”
This proclamation highlights the fragility of early territorial democracy, where a single tied vote necessitated a special election. It serves as a reminder of the high stakes of local representation in the formative years of Washington Territory.
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