What Happens If Nobody Wins the Presidency: QuickTake Q&A
What Would Happen if There Was a Tie?
Every four years, Americans are reminded how little they really know about their Electoral College system. Is it really possible for a candidate to win the most votes but still lose the presidency? (Ask Al Gore.) Can close elections end up in court? (Again, talk to Al.) And is it really possible that nobody emerges as the winner? That last question comes with an added twist this year.
To win, a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes, a majority of the 538 that are divided among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. A 269-269 tie is mathematically possible, though it’s never happened. It’s a long-shot possibility that neither the Republican, Donald Trump, nor Democrat Hillary Clinton amasses the needed 270 electoral votes.