Reply #13: The choice is? [View All]

[mdb]

Both houses of Congress have to agree to the objections to the electoral vote that are signed by at least one Senator and one Representative.

If both houses do agree, the objection stands and the disputed votes are not counted.

If after the objections dealt with, no candidate has a majority (now 270) of electoral votes, the 12th Amendment to the Constitution requires that the House and Senate must choose the president and vice president under a procedure formally called a "Contingent Election."

In the Contingent Election, the House chooses the president while the Senate chooses the vice president.

In the House, votes for president are cast by state, with each state getting one vote. A simple majority -- 26 states -- wins.

In the Senate, the vote for vice president is taken member-by-member. A majority -- 51 Senators -- wins.