Does your vote matter? In Newport News, VA, it might have

Call it the case of the double-bubble ballot. The November 7, Newport News, VA, election for the state House of Delegates still hangs in the balance as we near the end of 2017 and it all may hinge on one voter who couldn't quite follow directions when filling out his ballot. To make the stakes even higher, the entire balance of power within the state House depends upon the outcome of this race.

After election night, incumbent Republican Delegate David Yancey appeared to win the contest by the razor-thin margin of 10 votes. Democrat challenger, Shelly Simonds, naturally asked for a recount and on December 19 was declared the winner - by one vote - temporarily shifting the balance of power in the Virginia House of Delegates from a 51-49 Republican edge to a 50-50 split, allowing Democrats to challenge for control of the chamber.

This is when things got interesting. After Ms. Simonds was declared the winner, "a Republican-appointed recount official had second thoughts overnight about a ballot that was not counted" the previous day. Election officials had originally agreed not to count the ballot in question because bubbles had been filled out next to both candidates names. However, the bubble next to Ms. Simonds name had a line slashed through it and the rest of the ballot was clearly cast for Republican candidates. A three-judge panel agreed with Mr. Yancey's attorneys that the ballot indicated a clear preference for the Republican and suddenly the race was a tie - 11,608 votes per candidate.

How do you break an election tie? In Virginia, you draw a name out of a hat, of course, which was originally scheduled to occur tomorrow, December 27. We are all going to have to wait a little longer than that now as Ms. Simonds is challenging the ruling allowing the ballot to be counted in the first place. All we know for sure at this point is that somebody will be declared a winner before the House session starts on January 10.

Here is the ballot upon which hangs the balance of power in the Virginia House of Delegates. Would you count it?

Author's note: I don't think you should vote. It suggests that you consent to another person having some control over your being.

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