Overview
- Unofficial returns posted Nov. 5 show incumbent Robert Nelson and challenger Halyn Roth each received 1,401 votes with 13 write-ins recorded.
- The Spring Lake Park City Council will canvass results at a public meeting and, if the tie stands, plans a random drawing to decide the winner at its Nov. 9 session.
- A candidate who loses the drawing has seven days to request a publicly funded local recount and any candidate may seek a state-funded hand recount if the margin is under statutory thresholds; eligible recount requests are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 16.
- Halyn Roth has said she will request a recount if the drawing does not go her way while the incumbent has not publicly committed to a next step.
- A separate council contest separated by 17 votes is eligible for a recount and past Minnesota cases show a drawing can be overturned by an official canvass or recount, so the drawing may not be the final outcome.