Chicot County, Arkansas, elected its County Assessor in a partisan race last week. The only two candidates on the ballot were Democrat Barbara Esters, and Green Party nominee Elizabeth McCoy. The County Clerk says the vote totals are 2,227 for the Democrat, and 2,226 for the Green. However, the County Clerk refuses to count one absentee ballot, and even refuses to open the envelope to see whom that one voter voted for.

The Chicot County Election Commission is meeting at 9 a.m., Thursday, November 13, to decide whether to open the absentee ballot or not. The Election Commission will also decide whether to hold another election to break the tie (if there is indeed a tie), although there may not be any authority in Arkansas law to hold a run-off when only two candidates received any votes in the first round. If the Green Party wants a recount, the county may charge the Green Party approximately $1,100 to pay for it.

Chicot County is in the extreme southeast corner of Arkansas, bordering Louisiana and Mississippi. The Green Party nominee, Elizabeth McCoy, is very well-known and liked in the county. UPDATE: a new tally shows McCoy behind by 21 votes, but that tally may be incorrect. That one absentee ballot had not been opened because the County Clerk had thought the law required her to keep it sealed until today. A hand recount will be conducted. The Green Party will pay for the recount, and will get its money back if the outcome shows McCoy to have won, or tied.