Quick question about the electoral college?

[Darkhawk28]

Does it go to the popular vote as the tie-breaker?


Only reason I ask this is there is a definite chance that we might wind up with a 269-269 tie in the EV.


Edit: Sleep-deprived spelling errors.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Was thinking it goes to the senate or something.

 

[lordtyranus]

House of Reps.

 

[DanJ]

All hell breaks loose.

 

[Todd33]

Dick Cheney picks the winner if it's 50-50 in the Senate I think. I bet he will pick Kerry.

 

[TheGameIs21]

I thought that the EC was distributed in a manner that wont allow for a tie.... I could be wrong, I searched for link but couldn't find.

Never mind... Found it... There are tons of links that are partisan and non but the gist is House of Reps vote.

 

[Darkhawk28]

Finally found something....

Hard as for me to say this... Lordtyranus is correct (but read on).

One representative from each state will cast a ballot. There are 30 states with a Republican majority of states while only 15 with a Democratic majority. All the other states are tied or independent (Vermont). So in this case, Bush would win the election.

BUT, then in the Senate, if there's a tie of 50-50, Cheney might not be able to cast the deciding vote in that case. But also, it's conceivable that Kerry himself could vote Edwards in as Vice President.

Weird huh?

A Bush/Edwards Administration! eeesh... talk about in-house bickering.

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: DanJ
All hell breaks loose.

John Titor!!!!111one!!!juan!!!11

 

[Darkhawk28]

Oh, also, there's a referendum in Colorado that if it passes will split the electoral votes 5 to 4 (winner to loser). That could play a HUGE factor in this election. We'll have to be aware of that decision come Nov. 2.

 

[Ferocious]

Originally posted by: Todd33
Dick Cheney picks the winner if it's 50-50 in the Senate I think. I bet he will pick Kerry.

He would never do the honorable thing.

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: Chadder007

Originally posted by: DanJ
All hell breaks loose.

John Titor!!!!111one!!!juan!!!11

You listen to Coast-to-Coast don't you? Titor the time traveler!!! LOL

 

[EagleKeeper]

Have they stopped teaching American government in HS?

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Have they stopped teaching American government in HS?

This situation hasn't come up in 150 years, so I'm not even sure most teachers would even know this.

 

[Strk]

You can't have a tie, but you can have a plurality, which is not allowed. While you can win an election with a plurality of the popular vote, you must have a majority in the electoral college to win the election. If a majority is not reached, like others have said, the House of Representatives will choose the winner.(which is why Andrew Jackson won his first election with 13% more of the vote than anyone else, but was not elected President at that time)

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: Strk
You can't have a tie, but you can have a plurality, which is not allowed. While you can win an election with a plurality of the popular vote, you must have a majority in the electoral college to win the election. If a majority is not reached, like others have said, the House of Representatives will choose the winner.(which is why Andrew Jackson won his first election with 13% more of the vote than anyone else, but was not elected President at that time)

You CAN have a 269-269 tie.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Have they stopped teaching American government in HS?

This situation hasn't come up in 150 years, so I'm not even sure most teachers would even know this.

its in the Constitution. Article 2, section 1. then further clairfied in the 12th Amendment.

If history/govt teachers in who don't know this should be teaching at all.

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: herkulease

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Have they stopped teaching American government in HS?

This situation hasn't come up in 150 years, so I'm not even sure most teachers would even know this.

its in the Constitution. Article 2, section 1. then further clairfied in the 12th Amendment.

If history/govt teachers in who don't know this should be teaching at all.

Like you knew that off the top of your head.... c'mon guys, don't be thread crappers.

 

[lordtyranus]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Finally found something....

Hard as for me to say this... Lordtyranus is correct (but read on).

One representative from each state will cast a ballot. There are 30 states with a Republican majority of states while only 15 with a Democratic majority. All the other states are tied or independent (Vermont). So in this case, Bush would win the election.

BUT, then in the Senate, if there's a tie of 50-50, Cheney might not be able to cast the deciding vote in that case. But also, it's conceivable that Kerry himself could vote Edwards in as Vice President.

Weird huh?

A Bush/Edwards Administration! eeesh... talk about in-house bickering.

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_elec.html

"Also note that in the case of a tie, the current Vice President, as President of the Senate, may cast a vote for himself (if the current Vice President is running for re-election)."

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: lordtyranus

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Finally found something....

Hard as for me to say this... Lordtyranus is correct (but read on).

One representative from each state will cast a ballot. There are 30 states with a Republican majority of states while only 15 with a Democratic majority. All the other states are tied or independent (Vermont). So in this case, Bush would win the election.

BUT, then in the Senate, if there's a tie of 50-50, Cheney might not be able to cast the deciding vote in that case. But also, it's conceivable that Kerry himself could vote Edwards in as Vice President.

Weird huh?

A Bush/Edwards Administration! eeesh... talk about in-house bickering.

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_elec.html

"Also note that in the case of a tie, the current Vice President, as President of the Senate, may cast a vote for himself (if the current Vice President is running for re-election)."

Very interesting... when does the new Senate get sworn in?

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: herkulease

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Have they stopped teaching American government in HS?

This situation hasn't come up in 150 years, so I'm not even sure most teachers would even know this.

its in the Constitution. Article 2, section 1. then further clairfied in the 12th Amendment.

If history/govt teachers in who don't know this should be teaching at all.

Like you knew that off the top of your head.... c'mon guys, don't be thread crappers.

Yes I do know it off the top of my head. I"m a political science major. One of my classes this semester is on the US Presidency. We spend a great deal of time on the election and spend time on how they are selected, their job etc.

OKay maybe pushing knowing the exact sections. But high school teachers should atleast know the House of Representatives get the decide should their be a tie.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: lordtyranus

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Finally found something....

Hard as for me to say this... Lordtyranus is correct (but read on).

One representative from each state will cast a ballot. There are 30 states with a Republican majority of states while only 15 with a Democratic majority. All the other states are tied or independent (Vermont). So in this case, Bush would win the election.

BUT, then in the Senate, if there's a tie of 50-50, Cheney might not be able to cast the deciding vote in that case. But also, it's conceivable that Kerry himself could vote Edwards in as Vice President.

Weird huh?

A Bush/Edwards Administration! eeesh... talk about in-house bickering.

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_elec.html

"Also note that in the case of a tie, the current Vice President, as President of the Senate, may cast a vote for himself (if the current Vice President is running for re-election)."

Very interesting... when does the new Senate get sworn in?

Good question.

 

[lordtyranus]

January 3. The President is sworn in on the 20th.

"Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin."

In other words, the new senate comes before the new presidency, but after the electoral college vote.

 

[herkulease]

if I remember correctly the new congress gets sworn in January.

probably on their first day which is like the 3rd day of the January. Unless it falls on a weekend. I'm too lazy to look through my notes to find the exact info. and exceptions.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: herkulease

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Have they stopped teaching American government in HS?

This situation hasn't come up in 150 years, so I'm not even sure most teachers would even know this.

its in the Constitution. Article 2, section 1. then further clairfied in the 12th Amendment.

If history/govt teachers in who don't know this should be teaching at all.

Like you knew that off the top of your head.... c'mon guys, don't be thread crappers.

It was taught in American Government/History classes during my time in High School.

Just for kicks, I will forward the question to a Social Studies teacher to get a feel for the current teaching knowledge (both teacher and Curriculum

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: herkulease

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Have they stopped teaching American government in HS?

This situation hasn't come up in 150 years, so I'm not even sure most teachers would even know this.

its in the Constitution. Article 2, section 1. then further clairfied in the 12th Amendment.

If history/govt teachers in who don't know this should be teaching at all.

Like you knew that off the top of your head.... c'mon guys, don't be thread crappers.

It was taught in American Government/History classes during my time in High School.

Just for kicks, I will forward the question to a Social Studies teacher to get a feel for the current teaching knowledge (both teacher and Curriculum

Great, then why don't you ask for permission to go to recess and maybe you can bake some cookies in home-economics. I kid, I kid...