Tie vote in Cape Breton municipal election to be decided by draw Friday

The municipal district councillor for northern Cape Breton will soon be decided by a unique method – drawing a name from a box. This unusual situation arose after two candidates, Wanda Hennick and Amy MacKinnon, ended up with the same number of votes in last month’s municipal election. Both candidates received 145 votes in Victoria County’s District 8, encompassing Dingwall, Aspy Bay, and Bay St. Lawrence.

The Municipal Elections Act in Nova Scotia dictates that in the event of a tie, the winner must be randomly selected. This rule has left both Hennick and MacKinnon, as well as their constituents, dissatisfied. They believe that a random draw does not accurately reflect the democratic process and are advocating for a change in legislation to allow for a runoff vote or a by-election.

While Hennick has decided to attend the provincial court hearing in Sydney to witness the results of the draw, MacKinnon is still contemplating whether to make the six-hour round trip to the courthouse. Many voters share their concerns about the fairness of a random draw and worry that it may discourage voter turnout in future elections.

Victoria County’s chief administrative officer, Leanne MacEachen, stated that the council is awaiting the tiebreaker before convening their first regular meeting post-election. County officials have opted to conduct the draw centrally rather than in one of the district’s communities to expedite the process of determining the elected councillor.

Returning officer Blair Gallop expects the judicial recount to be a mere formality since the vote was conducted electronically, eliminating the need to physically recount ballots. Despite the unconventional method of deciding the winner, the county officials are eager to finalize the election results and ensure that the constituents are represented by their chosen councillor promptly.

In conclusion, the unforeseen tie in Victoria County’s District 8 has sparked a debate about the fairness and efficacy of the current election laws. As the community eagerly awaits the outcome of the draw, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of civic engagement and the need for transparent and accountable electoral processes.