Washington: As the race for the White House heats up, recent surveys indicate a tighter competition than many experts anticipated just a few months ago.
The US elections on November 5 will determine the future of former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump . Some polls show Kamala Harris with a lead, while others indicate gains for Trump.
The race is so close that many political analysts are labeling it one of the most fiercely contested elections in recent U.S. history. In this context, there is growing speculation about the potential for a tie between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
What Happens If There’s a Tie Between Trump and Harris?
Before we delve into this question, it’s important to understand how the U.S. election process works. To win the presidency, either Trump or Harris must secure 270 Electoral College votes. However, a tie would occur if both candidates received 269 votes out of the total 538 in the Electoral College.
It’s crucial to note that U.S. voters don’t directly vote for their president. Instead, they cast their ballots for “electors,” who are members of the Electoral College and pledge to support their chosen candidate.
Can Trump and Harris Both Receive 269 Votes Each?
A 269-vote tie can happen in some scenarios. One such scenario is if Harris wins Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada and a single electoral vote in Nebraska, all of which Joe Biden won in 2020, but she loses Pennsylvania and Georgia.
The other scenario where a tie could happen is if Trump were to win all of Nebraska’s Electoral College votes. However, this seems unlikely because the state’s 2nd Congressional District favours Harris as of now.
Has It Ever Happened?
In 1800, candidates Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr ended up tied in the electoral vote count, leading to a contingent election in 1801. Jefferson ultimately emerged as the winner in that election.
While improbable, in the case of a tie, the decision for the next president and vice president is taken out of the public’s hands. Unlike what many think the popular vote should be the next way to decide the American president, the decision is moved to the hands of Congress .
Contingent Election Comes In This Scenario
A “contingent election” would take place under the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This amendment states that if no candidate secures a majority of Electoral College votes, the new Congress, sworn in on January 3, will select the president, while the Senate will choose the vice president.
In simple terms, the House of Representatives, which is the lower chamber of Congress, would elect the president, while the Senate would elect the vice president.
If there is a tie between Harris and Trump, the contingent election would occur in January, after the new members are sworn in. According to an analysis by the Congressional Research Service, this election would be held on January 6, and the outcome would determine who takes the oath of office on January 20.
For this election, the House of Representatives would convene to elect the president, with each state’s delegation casting one vote for their preferred candidate (Washington, D.C. would not participate). The first candidate to receive 26 votes would become president.
Meanwhile, the Senate would be responsible for electing the vice president, with each senator allowed to cast one vote (Washington, D.C. would also not participate in the contingent elections). The first candidate to secure 51 votes would be declared the winner.
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