Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You recount the ballots.
You want to have a speedy election, but you also want the will of the people to prevail. That's what makes this a tough decision for you. However, after you've reviewed the election, you decide the best way to ensure that the will of the people is recognized is to recount the ballots.
You call for a recount and require that the results be given within one week. Officials work diligently toward the recount, but one of the candidates feels the deadline does not give elections official enough time to do a recount.
That candidate takes his grievances to the courts, where a judge rules that your time constraints are reasonable and that the count should be completed by the date you've set.
Finally, the recount is done and the original results from the election are confirmed. The losing candidate promises lawsuits requesting a new election. But you feel that you've done your job and done it well.
"There are some very tough decisions to be faced in this job," says Brook Thompson. He is a state coordinator of elections. "Most of them are dealing with people's rights to vote, which is a very delicate issue. You do the best you can do."