PEI

Election recount ties determined by coin toss

Mary-Ellen McInnis will be asking for a recount in district of Vernon River-Stratford after losing by two votes.
Mary-Ellen McInnis says she will be asking for a recount in the district of Vernon River-Stratford, after losing by 2 votes. (Contributed)
Mary-Ellen McInnis will be asking for a recount in Vernon River-Stratford after losing by two votes. 

The Progressive Conservative candidate was defeated by Liberal incumbent Alan McIsaac. 

"With only two votes separating, I think the voters deserve an answer on that and we need to have a look at it," said McInnis. 

According to the Elections Act of P.E.I., if there is a tie after the recount, the win is decided by the toss of a coin of the returning officer of the district. 

"It is too close a race not to ask for a judicial recount. We will just have to wait for the recount to happen and go from there," McInnis said. 

Defeated candidates seeking a judicial recount have four days to file a petition to the chief judge of the provincial court along with a $200 certified cheque. 

Three other races were very close in Monday's provincial election. 

PC Leader Rob Lantz lost his district by 24 votes. He was defeated by Liberal candidate Jordan Brown. Lantz said shortly after his defeat he would be asking for a recount. 

In Summerside-Wilmot, Liberal incumbent Janice Sherry defeated PC candidate Brian Ramsay by 30 votes. 

Liberal incumbent Bush Dumville defeated PC Linda Clements by 59 votes in West Royalty-Springvale.