Coin Toss Decides Fate of Mount Clemens School Board Seat in Rare Election Tiebreaker

When Rashidah Hammond and Alex Bronson, who had received an exact tie of 3,496 votes apiece, had to rely on the flip of a coin and a random lottery to decide the winner of a local school board race in Mount Clemens, Michigan, the conclusion was left up to chance.As the tie remained constant throughout the canvassing process, Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini described the situation as “a little unusual,” according to WWJ Newsradior.

A coin flip was used as the required tiebreaker to determine who would draw first from a bin of slips of paper labeled “elected” or “not elected.” After winning the coin toss, Hammond pulled the slip identifying her as the chosen member of the school board. Forlini highlighted the tiebreaker’s cost-effectiveness and fairness by saying, “What better way than take a 50-50 chance as to whether you’re gonna win or lose,” according to WWJ Newsradio.

Forlini told ClickOnDetroit, “I was actually looking for a quarter originally,” highlighting the importance of each vote by using an emotional coin for the toss that was a gift from the mayor of his father’s city in Italy. Where does anyone carry change? The unusual procedure complies with Michigan’s Election Law Act 116 of 1954, which states that in contests with a tie, the winner is decided by drawing by lot.

Josh Pasek, a lecturer at the University of Michigan, told ClickOnDetroit that using a draw to break a tie is not unusual and is rather fair. Even though Bronson, who did lose the draw, was disappointed, he accepted the outcome of the race and showed some grace in losing by shaking hands with Hammond following the draw. Bronson has until Friday, November 22, to ask for a recount. In December, Hammond will assume her position on the school board if no recount is called for.

Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!