If you ever doubted your vote counted, ask the Democrats running to replace California Rep. Anna Eshoo.
One month and six lead changes after the March 5 primary, state lawmaker Evan Low and Santa Clara Supervisor Joe Simitian find themselves in the same place: locked in a 30,249-vote tie for the second general election spot. The white-knuckle finish for the Silicon Valley seat is an unprecedented test of both the state’s universal mail balloting and its unusual top-two primary system….
Unlike other photo finishes decided by automatic recount, coin flip or names drawn from a bowl, congressional primary ties in California go to a three-way contest. “In no case,” the elections code states, “shall the tie be determined by lot.”
This has never happened with mainstream candidates in the decade-plus since California jettisoned partisan primaries, instead allowing the top two vote-getters to advance regardless of party. Seeking a recount would be a costly gamble for Low or Simitian, who are already guaranteed a spot in the November election.