An election race in Ontario that became too close to call ended with a literal draw from a hat. During the municipal election in October, Norfolk County’s Ward 4 ended in a tie between Jeni Lambert and incumbent candidate Chris Van Paassen. Under the Municipal Elections Act, a draw automatically triggers a recount. The recount was conducted by Norfolk County’s Clerk William Tigert on Thursday, but the results gave no further clarity, as both Lambert and Van Paassen still had 858 votes apiece. When candidates remain deadlocked after a recount, the Municipal Elections Act requires the clerk to choose the winner by lot, or, in simpler terms, through a random draw. Lambert and Van Paassen’s names were put into a hat. Van Paassen’s name was ultimately pulled, allowing him to reclaim his council seat and continue representing the area west of Simcoe that includes Charlotteville, Turkey Point, Vittoria, and Lynnville. Calls for change Once the recount was triggered, the idea that the final decision could be made by drawing a name out of a hat didn’t sit well with a provincial politician. “This is 2026, at a time when technology has transformed how we conduct elections,” Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady said during member’s statements at Queen’s Park following election day. “I find it difficult to accept that the outcome of a democratic election could ultimately come down to a lottery. Voter apathy is already a real concern; we should be doing everything we can do to strengthen public confidence in our democratic constitutions. Not introduce another reason for people to question the process.” Brady tabled a motion to try to change the practice. Instead, she would like to see a runoff election. “Surly in 2026 we can come up with a better way to resolve a tie than leaving the outcome to chance,” she said. Even if the motion passes, the proposed change is unlikely to take effect before the next municipal election in 2030. Waterloo Region recounts Although Norfolk County’s tie has now been settled, it was not the only area facing scrutiny. In neighbouring Waterloo Region, there will be two recounts. A recount was unanimously approved by Waterloo Regional Council after initial results for regional council seats showed a candidate won by just three votes. Chris Moser, who finished third in the race for one of two positions to represent the City of Waterloo, requested the recount. He received 8,602 votes, just shy of incumbent Chantal Huinink, who garnered 8,605 votes. Incumbent Jim Erb finished first with 13,994 votes. Huinink also supported the request, and said she would have sought a recount herself if she were in Moser’s position. Meanwhile, ballots in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board trustee race will also be re-examined after there was a tie between two candidates vying to represent Waterloo, Woolwich and Wellesley. Both of those recounts are set for Nov. 9 With reporting from Alexandra Holyk
