theatreguy said: "The 5-person jury only selects the 3 finalists and submits them to the Pulitzer Board. The Boardthen has a discussion on the finalistswhich is followed by a vote to decide the winner. TheBoard can also vote to select an entry that wasn't made a finalistby the jury, or it can vote to not give an award at all. The last time that happened was 2006."
Next to Normal is an infamous instance of the Pulitzer board making its own choice- it wasn't on the jury's shortlist that year at all, and there was some backlash to it winning.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."