U.S. Elections 2024: What if Trump and Harris Tie? How Will The Winner be Decided?

The race for the 47th U.S. presidential election is in full swing. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are currently facing off against one other. Millions of Americans cast their votes on election day, and current trends show that Trump has a slight lead over Harris. However, Kamla Harris is not that far behind, hence the competition is still on. 

Both candidates have made strong gains in swing states, which are crucial in determining the winner. The world is closely watching this election, and there's a chance that if both candidates declare victory on November 5, there could be uncertainty about who will lead the most powerful country.

If Both Candidates Reach a Deadlock

If both candidates declare victory, it would bring to mind the historic 2000 election, when the race between George Bush and Al Gore in Florida was incredibly tight, with a margin of less than 0.1%.

The U.S. presidential election process is unique, as the final decision is made by the "Electoral College," a group of 538 members. Each state is given a certain number of "electors" based on its representation in Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate).

How the Electoral College Works

In most states, the Electoral College follows a "Winner Takes All" rule. This means that the candidate with the most votes in a state wins all of that state’s electoral votes. However, Nebraska and Maine do not follow this rule. In these states, electoral votes can be split between candidates based on the vote distribution.

What Happens if No Candidate Wins a Majority?

In case none of the candidates is in the winning state, then in such situations U.S. Congress acts as the deciding body. The U.S. president is chosen by the 538-member Electoral College, with each state given a certain number of "electors" based on its seats in Congress.

To win, a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes. The U.S. Constitution allows Congress to step in if the election ends in a tie, such as 269-269. In this situation, the House of Representatives would decide the winner through a "Contingent Election."

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