HORTONVILLE- Voters in Hortonville witnessed an extremely rare finish in this spring’s election, as the final seat on the Hortonville Village Board was decided by a coin flip after two candidates finished in an exact tie.
Three seats were available on the board. According to the final unofficial results with all precincts reporting:
- Incumbent Julie Arendt Vanden Huevel led the field with 422 votes.
- Therese Abitz secured a seat with 405 votes.
- The final position came down to a deadlock between incumbent Shauna Keel and challenger Dalton Davis, who each received 356 votes.
Under Wisconsin election law, when candidates are tied after all ballots are counted, the race must be decided by chance. That procedure led to a coin flip to determine the winner.
Dalton Davis ultimately won the coin toss, earning the third and final seat on the Hortonville Village Board.
While ties are rare in local elections, they are not unheard of. State law outlines the process to ensure a clear and immediate resolution when a recount cannot break a tie.
The result means Vanden Huevel, Abitz and Davis will serve on the board following one of the closest finishes voters can see at the ballot box.
Comments