As of this report, the Halifax County Board of Elections was also waiting word from the state on the method that will be used if the provisional count doesn't break the tie, Kristin Scott, county elections supervisor, said this afternoon.

There is some speculation the tiebreaker between incumbents Patrick Qualls and Thomas McDonald could be a coin toss if the count of provisionals doesn't break the deadlock.

Qualls and McDonald both received 15.92 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns.

While Qualls said this afternoon he would accept a coin toss, he believes the count of provisional ballots could settle the tie.

Qualls said he was surprised by the outcome. “I'm shocked and highly disappointed, not in Jay (Carlisle) or Doctor McDonald. Doctor McDonald is a fine board member. There are people fighting hard against school merger and I just firmly believe people who have children in school should be on the school board given the opportunity. Doctor McDonald is a fine board member. If it comes down to him I'm fine.”

Carlisle, an incumbent, ended up as the top vote-getter with 21.51 percent of the votes and Cathy Hux Keeter, a challenger, won the second seat on the school board.

Conversely, McDonald said, if Qualls should be declared the winner through whatever method, he would honor those results. “I have ultimate confidence in Mr. Qualls. He and I have very similar ways of approaching things. However it turns out it will be a good thing.”

Provisional ballots include those of voters who might have gone to the wrong precinct or those who voted but did not inform the board of moves.

Scott is hopeful the provisional count Friday morning at 11 will break the tie. “They may go ahead and run them through rather than waiting Tuesday (the date of the canvas at 11 a.m.)”