Suppose there is an Electoral College tie.

[Blue-Jay]

I realize that the election is then decided by the House, but has this ever happened before? Is there a precident?

Also, what do you think the chances are that the HoR vote would favor the popular vote, or would they just <sigh> vote down party lines?

[alc]

1. John Qincy Adams 1824

The house decided in 1824 because of electoral college tie.. Hasn't happened since or before.

[Massacure]

2. 1800 - Jefferson vs Burr

[alc]

6. I was wrong

It did happen in 1800 too.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi alc!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[wuushew]

3. The election of 1824 was problematic

Andrew Jackson despite winning a plurality of popular votes and electoral votes still lost.

[MasterD]

4. Yes.

This has happened two times: In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied (Jefferson won), and in 1824 when the House chose John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson.

[mconvente]

7. Aha - The Corrupt Bargain of 1824

Jackson won the popular vote (but still had less than 50% because four people ran) and also won the electoral vote, but ended up losing because Henry Clay (who was Secretary of State or Interior or something like that) went behind the curtains and got Adams in as president. Of course, this mirrors the 2000 selection of Bush as president. Ah, but here's where it gets sweet! Jackson ran again in 1828 against Adams and got uber-revenge - he won fair and square! Looking for Kerry to do the same thing!

[newyawker99]

13. Hi MasterD!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[louis c]

5. Bush would win

The house votes in state caucases.

New York would get one vote, and Utah would get one vote.

Each would be assigned by the majority in that state delegation.

Small states have advantage, so we get f**ked.

[wuushew]

9. what happens in the event of a non-majority?

say a state had 4 dems and 4 pukes in congress, would the vote mirror the states popular vote?

[louis c]

10. I don't know

It would only matter if a candidate couldn't get to 26 states.

Imagine this scenario. Kerry carries the popular vote, the Dems hold a narrow majority in congress, the Electoral College ends up tied, but Bush retains the already tainted presidency by this method of one state one vote.

Wow, talk about closing in on a revolution.

[bluestateguy]

8. Then Bush wins

When the election is thrown to the House each state gets one vote, and a majority of state delegations must vote for one candidate for there to be a winner. If every Representative votes their party, Bush wins because 31 states are majority Republican Representatives, 16 are majority Democratic Representatives and 3 state delegations are split. Bush even has some wiggle room for defections here.

Bush needs 269 and Kerry needs 270. It's that simple.

P.S. Yes, the last time a tie took place was in 1800. It took the House 17 ballots to pick Jefferson over Aaron Burr.

[camaro69]

11. No tie

It will be a land slide.........