The Connecticut Democratic primary held on August 14 featured a very close contest for the party’s nomination for State Representative, 5th district. A recount was held, which ended up as a tie. Then it was discovered that one absentee ballot had never been counted because, while the ballot was still sealed, someone wrote “deceased” on the outer envelope. But, it turns out that voter is not dead. She is a 91-year-old woman living in a nursing home. Her ballot, which still hasn’t been opened, will presumably decide the race, unless possibly she voted for the third candidate on the ballot, or possibly she left that office blank. See this story.

This real-life incident is reminiscent of the 2008 film “Swing Vote.” UPDATE: on September 20, the ballot envelope was opened, but the voter had voted for the third-ranked candidate, so her vote didn’t change the tie between the top two finishers. Therefore, a new primary will be held. See this story. The federal law concerning the need to mail overseas absentee votes does not pertain to state office, so it seems likely this office will be omitted from the general election ballot mailed to overseas voters.