The Atlantic Beach City Commission Seat 4 race stood deadlocked at 3,162 votes apiece when the Duval County Canvassing Board paused its recount Monday, Nov. 9.

Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland announced the pause in an official statement. The machine and manual recount was scheduled to resume Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the Duval County Supervisor of Elections Election Center, 1 Imeson Park Blvd., Suite 100, in Jacksonville. The process is open to the public.

The recount was triggered after unofficial results released Nov. 6 showed Lisa Herrold leading Jennifer Lagner by just two votes, 3,160 to 3,158.

By the time officials paused the recount Monday, the candidates were tied at 3,162 votes each.

The totals remain unofficial. Eligible overseas voters have until Friday, Nov. 13, to return qualifying mail ballots. The Canvassing Board is scheduled to certify the results later that day.

What happens if the race remains tied?

If the candidates remain tied after certification, Florida law requires the winner to be determined by lot.

The Supervisor of Elections Office has scheduled that drawing for Friday, Nov. 13, at 5:30 p.m., if necessary.

The outcome could still change before certification because eligible overseas ballots may arrive before the deadline.

A race decided by a handful of votes

The contest has remained exceptionally close since Election Day.

News4JAX reported that Herrold held a one-vote lead after provisional ballots were counted shortly after the election. Subsequent ballot processing produced a two-vote margin by Nov. 6.

The Canvassing Board ordered a recount under Florida's election laws because the margin fell within the statutory recount threshold.

Herrold and Lagner are competing for the Seat 4 position currently held by Commissioner Candace Kelly, whose term ends in December.

What's next

The elections office scheduled the recount to resume Tuesday, Nov. 10. The latest official statement available for this report did not establish whether the recount had concluded.

The next major deadline is Friday, Nov. 13, when qualifying overseas ballots must be received and the Canvassing Board is scheduled to certify the results.

If the race remains tied, the drawing to determine the winner is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. that day.

Residents can follow updates through the Duval County Supervisor of Elections.