What happens if the EV splits 269-269?

[usregimechange]

If Obama can not keep NH and picks up NM, CO, and IA, it would spit at 269. I forgot what happens if this occurs. Senate decides? God I hope.

[KingFlorez]

1. The House decides

It's very unlikely there will be a split though.

[Bok_Tukalo]

2. The House decides with each State delegation getting one vote

<OPE>

[BrklynLiberal]

5. So there would be 50 votes, and theoretically it could still end up a tie?

[Bok_Tukalo]

7. Theoretically, I suppose

But this has happened before (not a tie in EC but no majority).

Kinda screwed Jackson the first time around.

[Peregrine]

15. Jefferson-Burr tied

Since there was no difference between EC votes for President and VP at the time (there is now), Jefferson and Burr tied in the EC. They remained tied in the House for several ballots until a deal was struck with the NY delegation (Hamilton) that gave Jefferson the win.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Election is thrown into the House which means that Obama wins because

Dems control the House. I think the way it works is that each state delegation gets a vote. Not sure, though. Anyone can elaborate...

[CK_John]

10. self deleted

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. Do you mean that the GOP controls more state legislatures?

I thought that quite a few state legislatures were controlled by the Dems. I'll have to read up on this. Very interesting...

[CK_John]

19. No, each state House Reps vote to see who gets the vote for that state. Example, a small

state with 1 Rep in Congress will determine that states vote. A state with 10 Reps will need a 6-4 split to determine its vote, and a tie does not vote.

The incomming House would do the voting, another good reason to pickup DEM Reps in those small states.

[VADem11]

16. Actually

We control 27 State delegations, Republicans control 21, and 2 states are evenly divided. Obama would win.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. That's what I thought...

[onenote]

17. the gop does not control more states in the House

Currently, 27 of the delegations in the House have more Democrats than repubs, 21 have more repubs than Dems and the rest are evenly split.

[depakid]

12. Which would be quite the karmic turnabout

from the last time this happened in 1876 where: "an informal deal was struck to resolve the dispute. In return for Southern acquiescence in Hayes' election, the Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. This deal became known as the Compromise of 1877. The Compromise effectively pushed African-Americans out of power in the government; soon after the compromise, African-Americans were barred from voting by poll taxes and grandfather clauses."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1876

[bluestateguy]

18. That is not a guarantee

You'll have a lot of DLC Blue Dog Democrats who represent districts where McCain wins, and they will be squeezed very hard to vote for McCain. Being the capitulators that they are, don't expect them to resist that pressure.

[margotb822]

4. Here's an interesting article

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-weigant/the-269-269-electoral-tie_b_106637.html

[BrklynLiberal]

8. Thanks. Great article, and it answers the question I posted

[Bok_Tukalo]

9. 23rd Amendment

The article counts DC but I do not see where they get a say except in choosing electors.


Amendment XXIII
Section 1. The District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:


A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a state, but in no event more than the least populous state; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the states, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a state; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.


Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

[margotb822]

11. Maybe to keep it from a tie...again

That's my best guess, but I don't know where it's written down.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

21. This article addresses the issue beautifully. Obama seems to have the advantage in this scenario.

[Benhurst]

6. Nancy Pelosi would take winning off the table and

McCain would be declared our next president.

[bluestateguy]

14. It goes to the House of Capitulators

And there will be enormous pressure to give the presidency to the winner of the popular vote (though members can vote for who they want to). But if there is an incentive to get out an vote, even if you live in a blood red or navy blue state, there it is.

[hiaasenrocks]

22. It won't happen. Some state legislatures can overrule the vote.

For instance, say Obama wins FL. The Republican dominated legislature COULD vote to give their state's electoral votes to McCain.

Normally I would say that this would never happen, but ever since 2000, I don't rule anything out.