帕萨迪纳市议会：当硬币翻转决定您的代表时

在帕萨迪纳（Pasadena），一场捆绑的市议会大选导致了戏剧性的硬币翻转，强调了地方选举的怪癖和每次投票的权力。

Pasadena City Council: When a Coin Flip Decides Your Representation

帕萨迪纳市议会：当硬币翻转决定您的代表时

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.

是否想象过您的市议会成员是由硬币翻转决定的？在德克萨斯州的帕萨迪纳，这正是发生的事情！让我们深入了解一个捆绑选举如何导致挑剔的机会的故事。

The Tie That Led to a Toss

导致折腾的领带

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!

今年早些时候，帕萨迪纳市议会B区位置的径流选举以死亡人数结束。现任人比安卡·瓦莱里奥（Bianca Valerio）和前理事会成员布鲁斯·利蒙（Bruce Leamon）都获得了272票。谈论一个近距离电话！

Heads or Tails: Deciding Democracy

头或尾巴：决定民主

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.

没有其他选择，帕萨迪纳市转向了一种不寻常的方法：硬币翻转。根据得克萨斯州的选举法规，如果候选人同意，则可以通过“铸造很多”来解决平局。 6月30日，在一次特别委员会会议上，瓦莱里奥（Valerio）叫Heads，并赢得了胜利！她宣誓就职了，证明有时机会在政治中起着作用。

Why a Coin Flip?

为什么要翻转硬币？

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!

虽然听起来很奇怪，但使用硬币翻转（或其他机会游戏）是在德克萨斯州打破领带的法律和公正方式。与举行另一次选举相比，它节省了时间和金钱。正如休斯顿大学政治科学教授布兰登·罗文豪斯（Brandon Rottinghaus）指出的那样，径流可能会花费5,000美元至100万美元。突然，硬币似乎是一个非常有效的解决方案！

Every Vote Counts (Seriously!)

每票都很重要（认真！）

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.

布鲁斯·利蒙（Bruce Leamon）尽管失去了硬币折腾，但仍强调了投票的重要性。他说：“这只是表明每票都很重要。”他本来希望选民决定的，但接受了结果。这种情况确实强调了每个人投票的重要性，尤其是在地方选举中。

A Rare, But Not Unique, Event

一个罕见但不是独特的活动

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，帕萨迪纳并不孤单。许多州允许有机会决定选举。从画吸管到滚动骰子，这些方法已经确定了整个德克萨斯州的当选官员。甚至在某种情况下，岩纸剪裁者被认为没有足够的机会游戏！

The Takeaway

外卖

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.

帕萨迪纳市议会的硬币翻转是一个古怪的提醒，使人想起了民主进程的意外转折。它突出了地方选举的重要性，每人投票的重量。虽然这似乎是荒谬的，但这是解决领带并前进的合法方法。

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，下次您参加民意测验时，请记住帕萨迪纳！您的投票可能是阻止未来硬币翻转的投票。谁知道，也许您的地方选举最终会成为一个有趣的故事。