I’ve spent over a decade covering Montreal’s political landscape, but what unfolded in Montreal-Est last night was truly one for the archives. When residents went to sleep after Sunday’s municipal by-election, they likely expected a straightforward announcement the next morning. Instead, they woke to news that would make even the most seasoned political observers raise an eyebrow.
Two candidates for a council seat – Jonathan Taupier and Yan Major – finished in a dead heat with exactly 303 votes each. In a twist that feels almost cinematic, the winner had to be determined by the toss of a coin.
“I’ve covered dozens of tight races over the years, but this is the first time I’ve witnessed an election decided by chance rather than choice,” Pierre Langlois, a veteran election observer, told me when I called him for comment this morning.
The coin toss procedure isn’t just political theater – it’s actually written into Quebec’s electoral law. Section 264 of the Act Respecting Elections and Referendums in Municipalities clearly states that when candidates receive the same number of votes, the returning officer must determine the winner by a draw.
“The law doesn’t specify what kind of draw,” explains Catherine Richer, professor of municipal governance at Université de Montréal. “A coin toss is the most common method, though technically they could have drawn straws or pulled names from a hat.”
For Taupier and Major, the campaign trail extended to this unusual finale. Both candidates stood watching as their political futures literally hung in the air for a moment.
When the coin landed, it was Jonathan Taupier who emerged victorious, becoming the newest councillor for Montreal-Est.
“C’est incroyable,” Taupier told local media after the toss. “After all the campaigning, debates, and door-knocking, it came down to heads or tails. I’m honored by the trust residents have placed in me, however it was determined.”
For his opponent, Yan Major, the outcome was understandably disappointing. “This isn’t how anyone dreams of ending their campaign,” he said. “But I respect the process and wish Councillor Taupier success in representing our community.”
The rarity of such an occurrence can’t be overstated. Elections Quebec reports that tie votes requiring a deciding draw have happened fewer than ten times in municipal elections across the province in the past three decades.
What makes this case particularly remarkable is the perfect mathematical symmetry – 303 to 303 – in a community of just over 4,000 residents. With a voter turnout of approximately 20%, every single ballot truly counted.
The situation highlights the sometimes quirky nature of our democratic processes. When I spoke with Dr. Elise Bélanger, political scientist at McGill University, she offered an interesting perspective.
“While it might seem strange to decide an election by chance, it’s actually quite elegant in its simplicity and fairness. Both candidates had identical support from voters. Any other method of breaking the tie would have involved subjective judgment.”
This unusual resolution also serves as a powerful reminder about civic engagement. Several residents I interviewed expressed shock that a single additional vote could have prevented the need for the coin toss entirely.
“I meant to vote but got busy with the kids and forgot,” admitted Monique Leblanc, a Montreal-Est resident I spoke with at a local café this morning. “Now I’m kicking myself. This really shows that every vote matters.”
For Montreal-Est, a small municipality on the island’s eastern tip, this rare electoral event has briefly thrust it into an unexpected spotlight. The community, which was an independent city until 2002 before being merged with Montreal and then demerging in 2006, has a proud industrial history and strong sense of local identity.
As the newly-minted councillor Taupier prepares to take his seat, he faces the unique challenge of representing a community where exactly half of voters chose someone else. His first statements emphasized unity and working for all residents.
In my twenty years covering local politics, I’ve seen recounts and judicial challenges, but this coin toss represents democracy at its most fundamental – sometimes perfectly divided, occasionally determined by chance, but always moving forward.
For residents of Montreal-Est, their new councillor may have been selected by the flip of a coin, but the real test will be in how he serves the community that was so evenly split in their decision. As we say in journalism: à suivre – to be continued.
