Believe your vote holds no significance?
Think again.
Just consult Michelle Backhouse and Allan Buckingham.
The ultimate position on Banff council was determined by a single vote between them, with Backhouse securing 742 votes over Buckingham’s 741.
Initially, Backhouse led by two votes on election night, but after a recount, the margin narrowed to just one vote.
Backhouse attributed her ability to handle pressure to her training as a firefighter.
“It was a bit stressful, but my experience as a firefighter has taught me to manage stress, and the result will be the best outcome,” she remarked.
Reflecting on her first council campaign, Backhouse admitted, “I didn’t realize it was that uncommon.”
Buckingham, who made his third council bid, anticipated a tight race but was surprised by the razor-thin margin.
“You know each vote matters, and it can be a close call… Two or one vote? You know it’s possible, but you don’t actually think it will come down to that,” Buckingham expressed.
Both candidates found it challenging to gauge the campaign’s progress, especially without the polling data typical in larger cities.
“Everything felt positive, and I received a lot of encouraging feedback. I was close, but not quite there,” Buckingham noted.
Neither candidate harbored doubts about their campaign strategy, with Buckingham explaining, “During an election campaign, there are countless things one could or should do.”
Although Buckingham had the option of pursuing a judicial review, he considered the recount conclusive.
“I don’t believe that’s necessary for me,” Buckingham affirmed.
In the event of a tie vote, provincial regulations mandate writing both candidates’ names on paper and randomly selecting one from a box.
Jack Lucas, a political scientist at the University of Calgary, labeled a one-vote difference as “quite rare.”
Close Votes Occur, but Are ‘Extremely Rare’
Lucas was involved in constructing the Canadian Municipal Election Database, which contains records of thousands of Canadian municipal elections.
He mentioned that while some elections are decided by a single vote, particularly in very small municipalities, it is exceptionally uncommon.
Lucas highlighted research in political science suggesting that some individuals view voting as irrational due to the minuscule chance of one vote determining the outcome.
“The likelihood of a candidate winning by a single vote,