What is this extremely long queue in Stuttgart?
A Republican primary in Hawaii ended in a perfect tie, and the winner was drawn from a woven basket. Case closed? Not even close. Hawaii's Supreme Court threw out the draw, and the race is now being voted on again on 3 November 2026.
Here is the full story, and why every election needs a tiebreak rule before the count.
In this article
- Hawaii Primary Tie: 842 to 842 Votes
- Tie Vote Decided by Drawing Lots From a Basket
- Hawaii Supreme Court Throws Out the Tiebreaker
- Re-Vote for “Republican Voters Only” Without Party Registration
- What Happens if the Re-Vote Ties Again?
- Tie Vote Rules: Why Every Election Needs a Tiebreaker
- FAQ
Hawaii Primary Tie: 842 to 842 Votes
In Hawaii, a Republican primary ended 842 to 842. It was the first primary tie there since 1988.
Tie Vote Decided by Drawing Lots From a Basket
Because there was no specific rule for a tie like this, officials had to draw the winner from a woven basket. Deciding a tie by lot sounds strange, but many US states use exactly that, from drawing names to tossing a coin.
Hawaii Supreme Court Throws Out the Tiebreaker
Case closed, you'd think. But Hawaii's Supreme Court threw out the draw. Two ballots had been assigned wrongly, so nobody could prove it was really a tie.
Now the whole race is being voted on again on 3 November, in the midterms.
Re-Vote for “Republican Voters Only” Without Party Registration
The new ballot says "Republican Party voters only". There's just one problem: Hawaii doesn't have party registration. In the primary, voters pick one party's ballot themselves. So in practice, anyone can vote.
What Happens if the Re-Vote Ties Again?
And if it ties again? The new rule being proposed is another drawing, this time from a shaking container. So no peeking.
The decision on that rule was scheduled for 29 October.
Tie Vote Rules: Why Every Election Needs a Tiebreaker
Hawaii shows what happens when nobody has decided in advance what to do in case of a tie: improvised procedures, court cases and a second election.
The same applies to clubs, associations and companies. Your statutes or election rules should say what happens if two candidates get the same number of votes, for example a runoff, a drawing of lots or a casting vote. With online voting, a runoff can be held in the same meeting within minutes. You'll find more tips in our tutorials and best practices for online voting.
How would you break a tie? Would you do it with a woven basket?
FAQ
Why was Hawaii's primary tie decided by drawing lots?
The Republican primary ended 842 to 842, and there was no specific rule for a tie. Officials therefore drew the winner from a woven basket.
Why did Hawaii's Supreme Court throw out the tiebreaker?
Two ballots had been assigned wrongly, so it could not be proven that the race was really a tie.
When is the Hawaii primary re-vote?
The race will be voted on again on 3 November 2026, together with the midterms.
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