OFFICIALS had to draw lots to decide the result of a Hampshire by-election after two candidates polled exactly the same number of votes.

Liberal Democrat Jack Davies, 20, became one of Britain’s youngest politicians when his name was picked out of an envelope by the returning officer.

Jack and Tory hopeful Michaela Morris both received 401 votes in an election called by the Conservative-controlled Lymington and Pennington Town Council.

A recount failed to break the impasse and both candidates agreed that victory should go to the person whose name was drawn out.

Jack duly won the Pennington seat with an official majority of one –- and is thought to have become Hampshire’s youngest councillor.

He said: “I thought it would be a very close battle but to find out after all that effort that it was a dead heat was as surprising as it gets.

“I’d loved to have won by a landslide but the result is the result,” he added.

“At 20 I’m by far the youngest councillor in our area and I think my energy and determination to look after the people of Pennington will be to the benefit of the community I serve.”

The returning officer was Bob Jackson, chief executive of New Forest District Council, who was following guidance issued by the Electoral Commission.

The guidance says: “When two or more candidates have the same number of votes you must decide (the result) by lot.

“Whichever candidate wins the lot is deemed to have received an additional vote, which enables them to be declared elected.”

Mr Jackson said: “Early on during the count it was evident it would be a close result and that a tie looked very possible.

“After the recount we were able to confirm that both candidates had exactly the same number of votes. This is very rare –- none of the current council staff can remember it happening here before.

“But I can recall a similar situation at Poole back in the 1990s, so I knew what needed to happen.

“The decision was accepted by all those present. It certainly goes to show that the often-used phrase ‘every vote counts’ really is true.”

An Electoral Commission spokesman added: “Having to draw lots because two candidates have exactly the same number of votes isn’t unheard of, but it’s certainly not common.”

The by-election was sparked by the resignation of a Conservative councillor and resulted in the Lib Dems gaining a seat from the Tories.

Jack, who lives in Pennington, is a former pupil at Priestlands School, Lymington. He is a student at Southampton University but also works for a taxi firm.

Michaela Morris was unavailable for comment.