Tracking Elections that Ended in Ties & Close Results

One Illegal Vote Can Make a Difference

The Public Interest Legal Foundation’s tied elections database gathers elections across the country that have ended in ties or been decided by one vote. These elections illustrate that one illegal vote or error can affect the outcome of an election.

This database is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list. There are many more tied and close elections out there. 

Elections Ended in Ties

Elections Decided by One Vote

States have different procedures for how to handle tie elections. These procedures include a lottery, coin toss, and runoff elections. To learn more about your state’s tiebreaker procedures, click here.

YearStateOfficeElection TypeVote MarginTiebreaker
2024New HampshireGilsum Town SelectboardGeneralTIELottery
2024American SamoaDemocratic Presidential Primary CaucusPrimaryTIEN/A
2024OhioGallipolis City Levy - Police Department FundingInitiativeTIESOS Guidance
2024LouisianaDemocrat State Central Committee Seat 87BPartyTIELottery
2024TexasEctor County GOP Precinct 205 ChairPartyTIERunoff
2024TexasEctor County GOP Precinct 310 ChairPartyTIERunoff
2024New YorkLancaster Village TrusteeGeneralTIERunoff
2024CaliforniaCA 16th Congressional District*PrimaryTIECandidates' Choice
2024ColoradoMinturn Town Council 4-Year Term SeatGeneralTIEPoker Card Draw
2024ColoradoMinturn Town Council 2-Year Term SeatGeneralTIEPoker Card Draw
2024OklahomaAsher Public Schools (Pottawatomie County) Board SeatGeneralTIELottery
2024MissouriWillard MayorGeneralTIELottery
2024MissouriWinfield Ward 1 AldermanGeneralTIERunoff
2024MissouriMountain View Birch Tree R-III School Board SeatGeneralTIELottery
2024MissouriWellston City Council Ward 6 SeatGeneralTIELottery
2024MissouriCarterville Councilperson - Ward 1GeneralTIESpecial Election
2024MissouriVillage of Milford Board Member SeatGeneralTIESpecial Election
2024MissouriCity of Union Alderman Ward 2GeneralTIESpecial Election
2024IdahoAda County Precinct Committeeman 1802PrimaryTIECoin toss
2024West VirginiaMontgomery City CouncilGeneralTIEPoker Card Draw
Public Interest Legal Foundation