‘US democracy at work’: WATCH Nevada caucus ties being determined by a deck of cards
Ties at Nevada caucus sites are being determined by drawing from a deck of cards, and the bizarre videos are leaving folks scratching their heads in bewilderment.
Videos are coming in from Nevada caucus sites as votes are counted to decide who will win the third big battle for delegates in the race to win the Democrat Party’s presidential nomination, and it’s made people aware of a special piece of equipment being used by precinct captains — a deck of cards.
While questionable videos showed ties at caucus sites in Iowa being determined by coin tosses, Nevada is appropriately looking to a deck of cards to break ties.
The Nevada Democratic Party provided captains with decks of cards and in the case of two caucus groups tying, both groups draw from the deck and the highest card wins. If the same number is drawn then the suit is the determining factor with highest to lowest being: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.
Each deck must be shuffled seven times before anyone draws from it, and jokers and instruction cards are removed beforehand.
Good God, this is really what happens if there’s a tie at a Nevada caucus site? pic.twitter.com/bEjnbV9CJX
— Jen Chaney (@chaneyj) February 22, 2020
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The strategy has been used since 2008 by the Democratic Party, but that hasn’t given many more faith in the system.
“If you’re gonna have then I gotta admit it’s kind of cool that Nevada leans into its gambling identity by making it a draw of cards,” National Review’s Jeff Blehar tweeted about the system.
Caucuses are stupid and the tiebreaking rules are stupider than that, but if you’re gonna have then I gotta admit it’s kind of cool that Nevada leans into its gambling identity by making it a draw of cards. https://t.co/KnON64DHlB
— Esoteric Jeff (@EsotericCD) February 22, 2020
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Various Nevada sites have been forced to pull the card trick.
“Nevada democracy at work,” Daily Telegraph editor Ben Riley-Smith tweeted in reaction to a tie break in Reno, Nevada.
Nevada democracy at work: tie means cards pulled. Buttigieg’s 3 beats Bernie’s 2. Buttigieg wins.?♂️ https://t.co/EAU7L4HTkg
— Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) February 22, 2020
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A representative for Bernie’s group pulled a two, while one for Pete Buttigieg’s campaign pulled a three in the video, giving Buttigieg an extra delegate. Oddly, just before the cards were drawn, it was announced that aces were low. Typically, they are high cards.
“Your democracy at work,” NBC News’ Sahil Kapur sarcastically added.
Nevada breaks ties by drawing cards. A Bernie-Pete tie led to Bernie drawing a 2 and Pete drawing a 3. Pete wins it.
Your democracy at work. https://t.co/khqOrMB9TM
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 22, 2020
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“Hooray for the free world!” one caucus observer wrote at another site where Sanders’ and Biden’s campaign had to draw over a tie. In this video, it can be heard that aces are high, meaning the rules exactly across the board when it comes to this foolproof system.
The caucus I’m observing in Nevada just broke a Bernie Sanders/Joe Biden tie by drawing a card. Hooray for the fate of the free world! pic.twitter.com/iP2F5n1zHd
— Francisco Pedro (@fpedro1988) February 22, 2020
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Me showing up at playing card tie breakers in Nevada pic.twitter.com/hqFPMRGMLP
— Carlo (@yesthatCarlo) February 22, 2020
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‘US democracy at work’: WATCH Nevada caucus ties being determined by a deck of cards