Procedure in case of equality of votes

Procedure in case of equality of votes. If during the trial of an election petition, it appears that there is an equality of votes between any candidates at the election and that the addition of a vote would entitle any of those candidates to be declared elected, then-(a) any decision made by the returning officer under the provisions of this Act shall, in so far as it determines the question between those candidates, be effective also for the purposes of the petition; and (b) in so far as that question is not determined by such a decision, the authorised officer shall decide between them by lot and proceed as if the one on whom the lot then falls had received an additional vote.