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Election 2009

November 11, 2009

Lottery system to be used to decide tied write-in votes

Write-ins resulted in ties in more than 45 races; drawing Friday will determine winners.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Write-in candidates received tie votes in more than 45 races in last week’s election, which means the Luzerne County Election Bureau must use a lottery system to declare the winners.

Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza said his office sent letters Tuesday to more than 150 impacted candidates informing them that the winners will be selected at noon on Friday.

The county Election Board will then certify all winners at Friday’s 3 p.m. Election Board meeting.

In the majority of tied races, people received only one vote each.

For example, nine people received a single vote for constable in Dallas Borough Ward 1.

The low counts are enough to win because no candidates appeared on the ballot. The tied seats include races for judge/inspector of elections and auditor in various municipalities.

To break a tie, the candidates, in alphabetical order, draw numbered “pills” that have been shaken in a bottle. The person who draws the lowest-numbered pill is declared the winner.

Piazza has posted a lengthy list of all write-in winners on the county’s Web site at www.luzernecounty.org (click on departments and Election Bureau). Tied races are highlighted, and only winners will remain when he updates the list after Friday’s election board meeting.

The write-in votes took several days to tabulate. Piazza said his office must also verify that write-in contenders are registered voters residing in the precinct in which they were selected.

Piazza said his office does not have the resources to tabulate write-in votes that would not change the outcome of a race.

Election results are available for public review in his office, Piazza said.

“If anyone wanted to know their total, they could review the returns,” he said.

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