Spring Lake Park’s mayoral race ended in an exact tie, with incumbent Robert Nelson and challenger Halyn Roth each receiving 1,401 votes. Minnesota law calls for tied municipal elections to be decided by lot, so a public drawing on Nov. 9 selected Nelson. Roth requested a recount, scheduled for Nov. 17 at the Anoka County Courthouse.
A Tie Left Spring Lake Park’s Mayoral Race Deadlocked
The Nov. 3 election ended with incumbent Robert Nelson and challenger Halyn Roth each receiving exactly 1,401 votes. There were also 13 write-in votes, but none changed the tie between the two named candidates. After the city canvassed the results, the race still needed a winner. Nelson has served as mayor since 2019 and previously held the office beginning in 2006.
Minnesota Law Requires Tied Municipal Elections to Be Decided by Lot
Minnesota law directs the canvassing board to determine a tied municipal election “by lot.” That means the board uses a random drawing or another game of chance to choose the winner. In Spring Lake Park, officials placed the candidates’ names in identical film canisters so they would feel the same, then put them in a bag for the drawing. The law also allows a losing municipal candidate to request a recount under the state’s recount rules.
A Public Drawing on Nov. 9 Selected Nelson
The drawing took place during a public City Council meeting at City Hall on Nov. 9. Council Member Barbara Goodboe-Bisschoff drew one of the canisters from a bag, and officials revealed Nelson’s name. The result gave the incumbent the win under the state’s tie-breaking procedure. Nelson said he thought the process was flawed, while city administrator Daniel Buchholtz defended it as fair. The public meeting let residents watch the unusual tiebreaker unfold.
Roth Requested a Recount Scheduled for Nov. 17
Minutes after the drawing, Roth submitted a recount request. It is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 17 at the Anoka County Courthouse and is open to the public. During a recount, officials manually review the ballots cast for the office and determine how many votes were validly cast for each candidate. The canvassing board then certifies the result. If the recount confirms the exact tie, the Nov. 9 drawing remains the tie-breaker.
