Minnesota Mayor Wins Tied Election by Drawing

Spring Lake Park Mayor Robert Nelson retained his seat after he and challenger Halyn Roth each received 1,401 votes in the Nov. 3 election, with 13 additional votes cast for write-in candidates. Under Minnesota law, city officials settled the tie by drawing one candidate’s name from identical film canisters; Nelson’s was selected. Roth requested a recount after the drawing, saying the process was fair but suggesting residents who want a different tie-breaking method contact state legislators.