Tie vote in general election, procedure to be followed.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.517
in effect115.517. Tie vote in general election, procedure to be followed. — 1. If two or more persons receive an equal number of votes for election to the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer or attorney general, and a higher number of votes than any other candidate for the same office, the secretary of state shall, immediately after the results of the election have been announced, issue a proclamation stating the fact, and the general assembly shall, by joint vote and without delay at its next regular session, choose one of such persons for the office. The speaker of the house shall file a certificate declaring which person has been elected to the office with the secretary of state.
2. If two or more persons receive an equal number of votes for election to federal office, state senator, state representative or circuit judge not subject to the provisions of Article V, Section 25 of the State Constitution, and a higher number of votes than any other candidate for the same office, the governor shall, immediately after the results of the election have been announced, issue a proclamation stating the fact and ordering a special election to determine which candidate is elected to the office. The proclamation shall set the date of the election and shall be sent by the governor to each election authority responsible for conducting the special election. In his proclamation, the governor shall specify the name of each candidate for the office to be voted on at the election, and the special election shall be conducted and the votes counted as in other elections.
3. If two or more persons receive an equal number of votes for nomination or election to any office not otherwise provided for in section 115.515 or this section, and a higher number of votes than any other candidate for nomination or election to the same office, the officer with whom such candidates filed their declarations of candidacy shall, immediately after the results of the election have been certified, issue a proclamation stating the fact and ordering a special election to determine which candidate is elected to the office. The proclamation shall set the date of the election and shall be sent by the officer to each election authority responsible for conducting the special election. In his proclamation, the officer shall specify the name of each candidate for the office to be voted on at the election, and the special election shall be conducted and the votes counted as in other elections.
4. As an alternative to the procedure prescribed in subsections 1, 2, and 3 of this section, if the candidates who received an equal number of votes in such election agree to the procedure prescribed in this subsection, the officer with whom such candidates filed their declarations of candidacy may, after notification of the time and place of such drawing given to each such candidate at least five days before such drawing, determine the winner of such election by lot. Any candidate who received an equal number of votes may decline to have his name put into such drawing.
(L. 1977 H.B. 101 § 12.350, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1634, A.L. 1993 S.B. 31) Effective 6-30-93
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.517Fetched: 10/17/2026