The two candidates have been locked in a dead heat since the initial count, and a flurry of activity on Nov. 12 only heightened the suspense as officials awaited the overseas ballot. When it arrived, it did not tip the balance, leaving the contest exactly where it started: tied.

Under Florida law, when a recount confirms a tie, the winner is determined by lot — a coin toss. That means the seat could be decided by chance rather than by voters, a prospect that has drawn attention to the razor-thin margins that can define local elections.

The race has been a roller-coaster for both candidates, who have been waiting for days to learn who will represent them on the commission. The overseas ballot was seen as the last potential tiebreaker before the coin flip.

With the tie now confirmed, election officials are expected to proceed with the lot-drawing process in the coming days. The outcome will determine who fills the Seat 4 position on the commission, which oversees local governance in the coastal community.

The situation underscores the importance of every single vote in down-ballot races, where a handful of ballots can mean the difference between victory and a coin toss. For residents of Atlantic Beach, the decision will come down to a flip of a coin — a rare and unpredictable end to a hard-fought campaign.