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After numerous recounts, the final one overseen by Houston County Auditor Char Meiners, Houston County Sheriff Doug Ely and about 30 Yucatan Township residents, it was determined that incumbent Yucatan Township Supervisor Elvin Paulson, at left, and challenger Peter Orr had both received 62 votes in Tuesday's annual township election. Meiners had contacted state officials and was instructed to have the contested race for supervisor determined by the drawing of lots. The two candidates had their choice of a coin toss, drawing straws and cutting cards. They agreed on the latter. Paulson drew the two of spades, while Orr drew the three of clubs. The final recount and drawing of cards took place Wednesday afternoon at the Yucatan Town Hall in western Houston County. Photo by Charlie Warner
“Karma” was the way one Yucatan Township resident described it, as about 30 persons filed out of the town hall Wednesday evening following a somewhat heated meeting.
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
“Karma” was the way one Yucatan Township resident described it, as about 30 persons filed out of the town hall Wednesday evening following a somewhat heated meeting.
A special town board meeting had been called when it was determined that incumbent township supervisor Elvin Paulson and challenger Peter Orr were deadlocked in a 62-62 tie in the annual township election, which had been held the previous day.
The controversy wasn’t over the fact that the two had received the same number of votes. The controversy was over a ruling by the election judges and backed up by both the Houston County Auditor’s Office and state officials that 30 absentee ballots were not legal.
If the 30 ballots in question had been added to the total, Orr would have won the election by 18 votes.
The 30 absentee ballots were not in the required sealed envelopes, nor had they been signed by the persons casting the votes.
“Something wasn’t right with them (the absentee ballots) so we called the County Auditor (Char Meiners) and she told us we could not include them,” Yucatan Township Supervisor Larry Gaustad explained to those attending last Wednesday’s meeting.
Someone from the group pointed out that was the way the township had handled absentee ballots in the past and wondered why they were being questioned now.
Sheriff Doug Ely, who was also asked to be at the meeting, pointed out that just because the absentee ballots hadn’t been handled correctly in the past, didn’t make it right to continue that practice. It was also pointed out because it had been determined that the ballots were not legal, the township could be facing a lawsuit if they included them in the count.
Several persons in the crowd said they wanted a new election.
“These people’s votes should be counted,” Donna Buckbee said. “It wasn’t their fault. If these votes can’t be counted, I think we need to have another election.”
Meiners explained that the law was very clear in that regard. The absentee ballots could not be included and the township could not conduct another election. She did add if either of the candidates wanted another recount they could do so by presenting a signed request.
Orr requested another recount, which was done with he, Paulson, Meiners, Ely and the crowd closely watching.
The recount proved that the election judges had no erred, the numbers remained the same.
Meiners told the group that according to the state, all ties are broken by drawing lots. The candidates had three options: a coin toss, drawing straws or cutting cards. Orr said he’d always been a gambler and suggested cutting cards. Paulson agreed. But would there be a deck of cards in the Yucatan Town Hall?
One of the persons attending the meeting said he had a brand new deck in his pick-up. He returned with an “Ace Telephone” deck still in shrink wrap.
Sheriff Ely opened the deck, shuffled them for several minutes and spread the cards out on the table in front of the crowd.
Paulson picked a card, took one look at it and his face sank. Orr picked a card, took a gander at it and looked sick.
Paulson showed his card first, which was the two of spades. Suddenly, Orr’s expression changed from one of disappointment to one of joy. His card was the three of clubs.
When the group saw the results, they erupted into cheers.
“I guess the system does work,” Wayne Feldmeier said as he walked out of the town hall.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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