As noted previously, in February 2013, two candidates ran for Alderman in one particular district in Macomb, Illinois. One candidate received 17 votes and the other received 16 votes. The city ruled that someone who receives 51.51% of the vote (which is the percentage for 17/33) didn’t receive a majority. However, that rule is not written down. The candidate who received 17 votes sued to stop the city from holding a run-off on April 9.

The judge hearing the case ruled that the two candidates should again run against each other on April 9, but that the results should be sealed. A hearing will be held on April 26 and the judge will then rule on whether the candidate who received 17 votes did receive a majority. Only if the judge rules that no one had a majority will the results of the April 9 run-off become known. See this story.