Heads or tails, you're elected!

COEUR d’ALENE — The voters decided it’s still undecided, and that means it will come down to a coin toss.

So heads or tails?

That’s right. The race for Republican Committeeman for Precinct 8 ended in a tie, splitting the 246 votes at 123 a piece.

So for the first time anyone in the Kootenai County Clerk or the Elections Office can remember, a little-known rule will be enacted at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the elections office.

They’ll flip a coin to see who wins.

Jimmie Masters and Ralph Noyes are the two committeeman candidates who will find out their futures once the coin lands.

“I wish I had a commemorative coin for it,” said Dan English, county clerk, who will do the flip that decides the outcome. “It’s kind of an unsung thing. It’s kind of a fun thing.”

According to the rule, the flip must happen within two days after the canvass, which puts it for Tuesday.

A little used rule, but practical nonetheless.

“Beats the heck out of sabers or dueling pistols,” said Noyes, who lost the same race two years ago 51-50.