In at least two elections Tuesday, the dead guy won

CENTREVILLE, Ala. Even a dead Republican beat a Democrat in the GOP's sweep of Alabama.

A Republican nominee who died almost month before Election Day beat the Democratic incumbent for a seat on the Bibb County Commission on Tuesday.

Probate Judge Jerry Pow says Republican nominee Charles Beasley defeated Democrat Walter Sansing despite having died on Oct. 12. Beasley carried about 52 percent of the votes.

Beasley wasn't the only dearly departed to win his election this year. In Florida, Democrat Earl K. Wood died on October 15 from natural causes at age 96, during his campaign for a 12th term as Orange County Tax Collector in Orlando, Reuters reports. Criticized for rarely coming into the office while collecting a $150,000 salary and $90,000 pension, Wood initially announced he would step down, only to change his mind when a longtime political foe made plans to seek the seat.

Wood's wide name recognition after almost half a century in office scared off several serious contenders, Reuters reports, adding he took 56 percent of the votes to 44 percent for a Republican who promised to eliminate the office altogether if elected.

In Georgia, officials say some voters probably didn't know Beasley died before the election, but others did.

The 77-year-old Beasley previously served one term, but the Democratic Sansing won four years ago.

The ballots were printed before Beasley's death and couldn't be changed before the vote.

Probate Judge Pow says the Bibb County GOP will recommend a successor to Gov. Robert Bentley, who will appoint a new commissioner.