Montreal East councillor elected by ballot box draw after tie vote

Julie Larivée has been named city councillor in district one of Montreal East after a tie forced the suburb to draw the name of a winner from a box.

Larivée and opponent Audrey Bordeleau each received 81 votes in the Nov. 2 election.

• READ MORE: After 2 candidates tied in Montreal East municipal election, winner to be chosen in draw

A judicial recount on Friday confirmed the tie.

Monday, each candidate was asked to put five ballots in a box at the council chamber of Montreal East City Hall under the supervision of the returning office.

One name - Larivée’s - was drawn as the winner.

“I thought I was going to die sitting there. It was extremely stressful,” said Larivée.

Montreal East Mayor Anne-St-Laurent said she also felt the pressure.

“It’s a crazy thing. I don’t want to live that another time in my life,” she said.

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This method is provided for in Section 256 of the Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities.

“Where a new count or recount of votes is conducted, the returning officer shall declare elected the candidate who obtained the most votes according to the results certified by the judge in accordance with section 273,” it states. “However, where those results reveal a tie for first place, a draw shall determine which candidate is to be declared elected.”

In addition to being a new mother to daughter Fleur Ange, born on Oct. 1, Larivée is now adding first-time city councillor to her résumé.

Both Larivée and St-Laurent agreed that picking a random candidate from a box isn’t the way to go.

“This is not democratic. Because the citizens took a position on November 2nd,” said St-Laurent.

Larivée said she also didn’t find it very democratic.

“It could be something to review,” she said.

- With files from CTV News’ Kelly Greig