Elections Decided by One Vote are Rare—But Not Unheard of

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Elections Decided by One Vote are Rare—But Not Unheard of

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While past research shows it is rare for elections to be decided by one vote, residents casting ballots in Missouri’s August Democratic primary for the 87th State Representative District now find themselves in just that situation. According to unofficial results, State Representative Stacey Newman defeated State Representative Susan Carlson by one ballot, 1,823 votes to 1,822.

However, the St. Louis County election board has declined to certify the results because of one small problem—102 voters were given ballots for the 83rd district not the 87th district. A court review will examine various remedies, possibly including conducting a new election.

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