Kentucky Magistrate Race Tied 91–91 in Robertson County: Officials Settle It With a Coin Toss, and Fryman Wins
Robertson County, Kentucky — The race for magistrate in Robertson County 2nd Magisterial District ended in a tie and was settled by a coin flip. USA Today reported on November 10 that Republican Benny Ray Renner and Democrat Kristen Fryman both received 91 votes.
The toss
According to local station WEKU, as reported by USA Today, officials decided to break the tie with a coin toss instead of a recount, using a quarter borrowed from the local sheriff's pocket.
Fryman told the outlet that the county clerk flipped the coin, that her opponent Renner got the call because he was listed first on the ballot, and that he called heads while the coin landed on tails. She said they laughed about it, and that she left as the winner with the quarter in her pocket.
The office
According to the state of Kentucky, as cited in the reporting, the seat Fryman won is on the county fiscal court, which sets the county local budget and tax rates.
Reporting added that another Kentucky magistrate contest this year, a Republican primary in Union County, also ended tied after a ballot dispute was resolved, and was likewise settled by a coin toss. This report states the vote totals and the tie-breaking procedure only.
(Source: Robertson County Clerk’s Office)
Source: Robertson County Clerk’s Office
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Frankfort 的肯塔基州议会大厦。照片：CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
