NSW council left without a mayor after names ‘drawn out of a hat’ in election tie-break bungle
News Source
•Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:06:11 GMT
📰 What Happened
A council in northern NSW has no mayor after a mix-up in a tied vote. Two councillors, Peter Johnstone and Ray Smith, each got four votes for mayor. The general manager decided to settle it by drawing a name at random.
General manager Laura Black told the room the name drawn would be out. But the law says the name drawn in the final round is the winner. Smith's name came out, so Johnstone was made mayor. It should have been Smith.
🔍 The Backstory
Johnstone quickly resigned and said a new vote should be held. He also said he never saw a real hat. He thinks the names were drawn from a small box.
The council has asked the state Office of Local Government what to do next. Local law says a tie for mayor must be settled 'by lot'. Johnstone said the legal advice could change the result again.
🎯 Why It Matters
Small rule mistakes can change who runs a council. This case shows why officials must follow the rules exactly when votes are tied.
A council in northern NSW has no mayor after a mix-up in a tied vote. Two councillors, Peter Johnstone and Ray Smith, each got four votes for mayor. The general manager decided to settle it by drawing a name at random.
General manager Laura Black told the room the name drawn would be out. But the law says the name drawn in the final round is the winner. Smith's name came out, so Johnstone was made mayor. It should have been Smith.
Johnstone quickly resigned and said a new vote should be held. He also said he never saw a real hat. He thinks the names were drawn from a small box.
The council has asked the state Office of Local Government what to do next. Local law says a tie for mayor must be settled 'by lot'. Johnstone said the legal advice could change the result again.
Small rule mistakes can change who runs a council. This case shows why officials must follow the rules exactly when votes are tied.