Hello, this is pastor gary from first baptist church of laplata. How is an election determined when it ends in a tie? This recently happened in a primary election in Alabama. According to the Alabama Constitution, the Sheriff is to decide the election by lot. Lot can refer to any game of chance upon which both parties agree but is usually done by coin toss. Picking the high card, rolling dice, or rock-paper-scissors are also acceptable forms of breaking the tie. Alabama Code 17-12-23 states, “In all elections where there is a tie between the two highest candidates for the same office…it shall be decided by lot by the sheriff of the county in the presence of the candidates…” While this may seem strange to us, ancient Israel used the lot to determine God’s will. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Proverbs 16:33 which says, “The lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.” In other words, we roll the dice, but God causes the numbers to come up. This is very reassuring to me knowing that God is in complete control—even over things that seem random to us. Democracy is based on the people’s choice, but since God’s will has been historically expressed in the lot, maybe we should go back to that for our elections. I would much rather God decide who is to rule over me than millions of uninformed, mal-educated, nature-worshiping, commie-loving, baby-killing, godless voters. Even so, God is sovereign over their foolish choices as well.
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