SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI) – Could a game of chance – the flip of a coin – determine the next County Commissioner of Caribou County?
According to the office of the Secretary of State, it can, but only after a tie is confirmed.
The county board has to meet first to “canvass,” when the county will recount and verify the votes. The official results won’t be known til May 28th.
If the tally remains even, there will be a coin flip. It is scheduled for May 29th.
“Yeah. So Vegas style. Right?” Caribou County Commissioner candidate, Tracy Davis, said. “You look back at some of the things and, you know, there have been other counties that have come down to a tie and the traditional coin flip conducted by the county clerk. So it is an uncertain feeling. But, you know, ultimately it is [uncertain]. We are going against a great guy. And either way, let’s flip the coin and let’s move forward.”
“I think [Caribou County] is going to have to do just like me. Wait and see,” Caribou County Commissioner candidate George Hulse said. “It’s going to be interesting. And, you know, you can’t change it now. So if you wanted to make a change, it wouldn’t be with this election. It would be with future elections.”
Coin flip or run-off election?
A coin flip determining the winner, of course, leaves the outcome to chance. Both Davis and Hulse were asked if they would prefer a runoff election instead.
“The only time I’ve ever seen anything decided by the flip of a coin that I thought was important? When I was in high school, I pole vaulted, and I tied with one of the other contestants,” relates Hulse. “It was decided by the flip of a coin who had first. I just thought, that’s quite a way to decide something like that or an election. But I don’t think that’s fair.”
“I think runoff elections are probably the more better bet,” says Davis. “I just feel like, you know, especially in a three-way race, it can change a lot of dynamics in the voting system.”
The election results remain to be seen, but once the winner is announced – whether by vote or chance – you can count on Local News 8 to deliver the results.
