ARDMORE Okla. (KTEN) — The deadlock between Carter County sheriff Republican primary candidates DJ Long and Chris Bryant has come to a close. The winner was decided Friday evening by a random draw from a bucket.

After the June 18 election, the race between incumbent Sheriff Chris Bryant and challenger DJ Long ended in a tie; each received 2,569 votes.

According to Oklahoma Statute Title 26, Section 8-105, election boards must select the winner of a tie election by a drawing if the deadlock isn't broken by a recount.

Since the race involved only two candidates, there can be no runoff election.

"I think that it's probably a law that needs to be revisited," said Carter County resident Jerren Preston. "I disagree with sticking two pieces of paper in a basket, or a hat, and then that decides on by far the most important elected position we have in this county."

After almost eight hours of counting and recounting the ballots by election officials on Friday, the result remained deadlocked.

Following the state law, the election board selected the winner by lot, and the name that was picked from the bucket was DJ Long.

"I don't think that it's fair," said voter Phyllis Peery. "It's like tossing a quarter. I think that they should hold a whole new election, because that's the only fair way to decide who can be our sheriff."

"One more vote, either way, we would've had a sure-cut elected official — but instead, we got an elected official by drawing a name out of a hat," added voter Tom Miller. "Is this a raffle?"

Sheriff Bryant's term will end on December 31.