Neck and neck Alberta election race ends in a tie; recount pending
Posted May 6, 2015 10:28 am.
Last Updated May 6, 2015 4:45 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY – In baseball, a tie goes to the runner.
On the track, a tie goes to a photo finish.
In Alberta elections, it seems, a tie goes to an official recount.
Two Alberta election candidates found themselves in limbo Wednesday after their race ended in a tie.
After 28 days of campaigning and more than 21,000 votes cast, Progress Conservative incumbent Linda Johnson and NDP challenger Anam Kazim each ended the night with 7,015 votes in Calgary Glenmore.
Johnston trailed her challenger for most of the evening, but mounted a comeback, tying it on the last poll.
“I’m still in the running. Through the whole evening I was saying to my team, ‘it’s not over till it’s over,'” said Johnson. “I’m from the Peter Lougheed school of politics that you operate like you’re 10 votes behind.”
Johnson said a mathematician is needed to determine the odds of a tie after that many votes. Of all the outcomes, she said, this “wasn’t on her list”.
Elections Alberta was to conduct an official recount of all the ballots Wednesday, but there is no guarantee when the results will be finalized.
If it is still a tie, the next step would involve requesting a judicial review under the Alberta Election Act.
A judge would examine rejected and spoiled ballots in an attempt to choose a winner.
If that fails to resolve the matter, the constituency would be declared vacant and a byelection called.
NDP candidate Anam Kazim was upbeat despite the situation.
“The tie is actually quite exciting and interesting. It’s a historic moment for sure, considering we don’t get to see it very often,” she said with a laugh.
“Now we’ve got something to look forward to. It’s adding more suspense.”
— Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter
