What if Neither candidate scores 270 votes?

[Fescue4u]

Which I suspect is a real possibility...And the election is decided in Congress.

Of course if Congress decides, because of Republican control Bush will win.

How will the country react? Im fearful that we could have a real mess.

[Sirveri]

1. That has actually happened twice in history.

I suspect that Kerry will win the popular vote, which we all know doesn't matter. Then if a Repuke Congress votes Bush there will be a signifigant backlash from that.

[drunkdriver-in-chief]

14. Backlash? You sure about that?

They stole the election in 2000 and everybody just said ok.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. You said it!

What would be interesting is if Kerry won the popular vote and then ties in the EC.

I would hope that people would rise up and pressure Congress to elect the winner of the popular vote.

As if THAT would happen.

[FlemingsGhost]

3. Not a damned thing.

Zip. Zero. Nada.

Look around, folks still hold fast to a system of governance that has failed them time and time again. And still, they soldier on perpetuating the myth that we are morally superior in our words and actions. The idea that this time, by golly, it will live up to the standard.

Americans are too timid to anything about yet another frontal assault on their freedom. They're too busy watching television, or arguing amongst themselves. And politicians, from both sides, are grateful for it ...

(edited for clarity)

[davidinalameda]

4. the House will probably vote for whomever has the most electorial votes

that would seem fair

[Fescue4u]

5. lol..since when does fair

have anything to do with politics.

Makes no mistake. The Republicans will vote for Bush, and the Democrats will vote for Kerry.

There might be a few cross over votes for retiring members etc, but any member that looks to be relected or have any power in the future will vote the party line.

But I agree, they SHOULD vote for popular vote winner.

[kiahzero]

7. If they didn't make 270, they would be tied. So no go. (n/t)

[unblock]

10. probably yes, but technically no

a state could go to a 3rd party candidate (not likely)
or an individual elector could go vote for someone other than the expected choice (not all that unlikely, it has happened before).

[serryjw]

12. It will be a tie or a 270 win!

Only Maine and Nebraska have proportionate representation. The chances of any EV going to a 3rd party from these 2 states is nill.....the initiative in Colorado could be the problem. We do have many greens in out state. I could see the possibility of a EV going to Nader...all other 47 states has winner takes all. Nader could never carry an entire state

[unblock]

16. what i mean is that many electors are not REQUIRED to vote as expected

even though shrub will win texas handily, there's nothing legally preventing one of the texas electors from casting their electoral vote for his own aunt.

states require their electors to vote as expected, but not all.

[serryjw]

18. TRUe, TRUE...BUT highly unlikely

these are party loyalist. Can't imagine one jumping ship

[sabbat hunter]

8. what makes you think....

a republican house would vote for the person with the most popular vote, and not just for Bush.

hells way back when, Andrew jackson had a plurarity of the EC and the popular vote but the house still elected John Q adams.


david

[serryjw]

6. NEWLY elected Congress would vote for the President.........BUT

the newly elected Senate would vote for the VP.......IF if was 269/269. We could have a Bushit/Edwards administration!...Any reasonable chance we could take the HOUSE?

[CitySky]

9. Not this time, unfortunately.

There's a good article on electoralvote.com that explains what happens in a 269 type scenario.

[mdguss]

11. Not neccessairly a win for GOP:

If the House were to decide the election (as should've happend in 2000), it would be on a one-state, one-vote basis (meaning the delegation of each state casts a vote and whoever gets 26 wins; it's murky as to whether D.C. would get to vote if this were to happen). Depending on the outcome of the house election--and it certainly is possible for the Democrats to win that despite redistricting, Kerry could prevail in the house. However, it is very, very doubtful that both will end up at 269. I think a Kerry electoral total in the low 300's is likely.

[deadmessengers]

15. Maybe not

Actually, the Constitution is unclear on the subject of WHEN the House and Senate will be called upon to select a new President in the case of an indecisive Electoral College vote.

If this were to happen, I'm absolutely certain that the Repugnicans will seek to call the election prior to the new Congress taking office, thereby ensuring that both * and Cheney are elected. I'm equally certain that it'll end up at the Supreme Court, with Scalia engineering a 5-4 vote in favor of the Repugnicans.

[w4rma]

13. cage match! Or maybe a horseback riding match.

I give the edge to Sen. Kerry on both. Since he's the only one whose been to war and Bush is afraid of horses.

[secular_warrior]

17. America doesn't care - too busy watching "Bachelor" and shopping

The sheeple blindly trust the system. If the TV says George Bush is president, then surely he must've won fair-and-square.

The sheeple will only wake up when it directly affects their selfish little lives. Ignorance is bliss.