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.
Full Article: Tied election down to one voter’s ID or drawing straws.