Tied election down to one voter's ID or drawing straws

Unless a lone affidavit voter shows up with a valid photo ID before next Tuesday, Glenn Bolin and Stephanie Bounds will draw straws to see who becomes Poplarville alderman.

In a special election runoff Tuesday, Bolin and Bounds each received 177 votes. But one voter showed up at the polls without a photo ID, as now required by law in Mississippi, and voted affidavit. That voter has five business days to bring in a valid ID, and could determine the election.

"They won't tell us who it is," Bolin said Wednesday. "My thinking is that person is not going to come in, because they don't want all

the attention of being the one vote … We were told last night that after five days, we'll draw straws."

Bounds said, "It just proves to me that every vote counts ... That's what we've heard, we may be drawing straws. It's strange, but I will support the outcome, whatever it is. I'm all for history being made. I will support Mr. Bolin, if he's determined to be the winner."

Mississippi law, like most other states, says a runoff tie "shall be determined by lot." The Secretary of State's Office said the method of drawing of lots is determined by the local government or election boards.

Some past Mississippi elections have been determined by a coin toss, or by drawing straws.

In 2013, a local runoff in Rienzi, population of about 350, was tied at 45 votes and determined by a coin flip. Bolin said a 1970s constable runoff in Pearl River County was determined by a coin toss.

Bolin and Bounds were among four candidates in a special election to fill a seat vacated by former Alderman Randy Brown, who resigned after the State Auditor determined he had a conflict of interest with his job with the Biloxi Police Department.

Bounds led the first round of voting on Aug. 26 with 137 votes, with Bolin receiving 106, but no candidate garnered more than 50 percent to prevent a runoff.

Bolin said the runoff turnout was paltry, considering there are more than 1,600 registered voters.

"People do not care any more, don't care enough to get out and vote," Bolin said. "We had 177 votes to 177 votes, with one out there in limbo. It looks like we'll be drawing straws. This is crazy."

Contact Geoff Pender at (601) 961-7266 or gpender@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @GeoffPender on Twitter.