COLUMBUS – Five local elections in Ohio were decided by a single vote or tied during the 2018 General Election held on Nov. 6, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted announced Friday. All five contests were local issues.

“Once again we’re reminded that every vote and every election matters,” Husted said. “Issues and races at the local level directly impact our lives. The fact that 204 elections over the last five years have come down to a single vote proves that each one of us can make a difference.”

Issues and ballot questions require a majority vote in order to pass, so in the case of tie votes, the matter fails. For local races, such as city council or county central committee, in the case of tie votes winners are determined by lot.

All of the races that resulted in a tie in the 2018 General Election were decided by either a coin toss or name draw.

Ahead of the 2015 General Election, Husted announced a new, statewide initiative giving every voter access to an online voter toolkit where they could view a sample ballot. This allows voters to know what they will be asked to decide when they cast their ballot.

The online voter toolkit also gives voters the ability to track their absentee ballot, find their polling location and check their voter registration.