帕薩迪納市議會：當硬幣翻轉決定您的代表時

在帕薩迪納（Pasadena），一場捆綁的市議會大選導致了戲劇性的硬幣翻轉，強調了地方選舉的怪癖和每次投票的權力。

Pasadena City Council: When a Coin Flip Decides Your Representation

帕薩迪納市議會：當硬幣翻轉決定您的代表時

Ever imagined your city council member being decided by a coin flip? In Pasadena, Texas, that's exactly what happened! Let's dive into the story of how a tied election led to a nail-biting moment of chance.

是否想像過您的市議會成員是由硬幣翻轉決定的？在德克薩斯州的帕薩迪納，這正是發生的事情！讓我們深入了解一個捆綁選舉如何導致挑剔的機會的故事。

The Tie That Led to a Toss

導致折騰的領帶

Earlier this year, a runoff election for the District B position on the Pasadena City Council ended in a dead heat. Bianca Valerio, the incumbent, and Bruce Leamon, a former council member, each received 272 votes. Talk about a close call!

今年早些時候，帕薩迪納市議會B區位置的徑流選舉以死亡人數結束。現任人比安卡·瓦萊里奧（Bianca Valerio）和前理事會成員布魯斯·利蒙（Bruce Leamon）都獲得了272票。談論一個近距離電話！

Heads or Tails: Deciding Democracy

頭或尾巴：決定民主

With no other options, the City of Pasadena turned to an unusual method: a coin flip. According to Texas Election Code, if candidates agree, a tie can be resolved by "casting lots." On June 30th, at a special council meeting, Valerio called heads—and won! She was sworn in for another term, proving that sometimes, chance plays a role in politics.

沒有其他選擇，帕薩迪納市轉向了一種不尋常的方法：硬幣翻轉。根據得克薩斯州的選舉法規，如果候選人同意，則可以通過“鑄造很多”來解決平局。 6月30日，在一次特別委員會會議上，瓦萊里奧（Valerio）叫Heads，並贏得了勝利！她宣誓就職了，證明有時機會在政治中起著作用。

Why a Coin Flip?

為什麼要翻轉硬幣？

While it sounds bizarre, using a coin flip (or other games of chance) is a legal and impartial way to break a tie in Texas. It saves time and money compared to holding another election. As University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus pointed out, a runoff can cost a municipality anywhere from $5,000 to $1 million. Suddenly, a coin seems like a pretty efficient solution!

雖然聽起來很奇怪，但使用硬幣翻轉（或其他機會遊戲）是在德克薩斯州打破領帶的法律和公正方式。與舉行另一次選舉相比，它節省了時間和金錢。正如休斯頓大學政治科學教授布蘭登·羅文豪斯（Brandon Rottinghaus）指出的那樣，徑流可能會花費5,000美元至100萬美元。突然，硬幣似乎是一個非常有效的解決方案！

Every Vote Counts (Seriously!)

每票都很重要（認真！）

Bruce Leamon, despite losing the coin toss, emphasized the importance of voting. "This just goes to show that every vote counts," he said. He would have preferred the voters decide, but accepted the outcome. This situation truly underscores how much each individual vote matters, especially in local elections.

布魯斯·利蒙（Bruce Leamon）儘管失去了硬幣折騰，但仍強調了投票的重要性。他說：“這只是表明每票都很重要。”他本來希望選民決定的，但接受了結果。這種情況確實強調了每個人投票的重要性，尤其是在地方選舉中。

A Rare, But Not Unique, Event

一個罕見但不是獨特的活動

Believe it or not, Pasadena isn't alone. Many states allow for games of chance to decide elections. From drawing straws to rolling dice, these methods have determined elected officials across Texas. There was even a case where rock-paper-scissors was deemed not enough of a game of chance!

信不信由你，帕薩迪納並不孤單。許多州允許有機會決定選舉。從畫吸管到滾動骰子，這些方法已經確定了整個德克薩斯州的當選官員。甚至在某種情況下，岩紙剪裁者被認為沒有足夠的機會遊戲！

The Takeaway

外賣

The Pasadena City Council coin flip is a quirky reminder of the democratic process's unexpected twists. It highlights the significance of local elections and the weight each vote carries. While it might seem absurd, it's a legitimate way to resolve a tie and move forward.

帕薩迪納市議會的硬幣翻轉是一個古怪的提醒，使人想起了民主進程的意外轉折。它突出了地方選舉的重要性，每人投票的重量。雖然這似乎是荒謬的，但這是解決領帶並前進的合法方法。

So, next time you're at the polls, remember Pasadena! Your vote could be the one that prevents a future coin flip. And who knows, maybe your local election will end up being a fascinating story to tell.

因此，下次您參加民意測驗時，請記住帕薩迪納！您的投票可能是阻止未來硬幣翻轉的投票。誰知道，也許您的地方選舉最終會成為一個有趣的故事。